SBTi Services has introduced a new Readiness Assessment Service to assist corporations preparing to transition to Version 2.0 of the Science Based Targets initiative’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard. The service is specifically designed for businesses that hold validated targets under previous iterations of the framework, helping them map out the exact adjustments required to secure formal validation under the updated criteria.
The evaluation leverages data previously submitted during a company’s initial target validation process, thereby eliminating the need for organisations to compile entirely new data sets to begin the process. However, companies whose commercial operations or emissions profiles have shifted since their last evaluation are permitted to submit updated information to ensure the assessment accurately reflects their current baseline.
The Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 represents the most comprehensive update to the SBTi framework to date. It introduces an expanded toolkit aimed at providing companies with greater structural clarity as they work to deliver real-economy emissions reductions, whilst simultaneously boosting corporate competitiveness and resilience.
Managed directly by the SBTi Services Validation Team, the assessment will determine whether a participant qualifies as a Category A or Category B company and map existing climate targets onto new scope-specific infrastructure. It will also clarify where the company sits within the cyclical validation framework to establish tailored compliance timelines. Furthermore, the team will evaluate whether a company’s current carbon inventories and assurance arrangements satisfy the updated requirements across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, highlighting exactly where data methods or assurance protocols require strengthening.
Eligible companies of all sizes can book the assessment immediately. Engaging with the service early allows organisations to prepare for the transition ahead of 2028, the year V2.0 becomes the mandatory standard for all corporate target-setting. The resulting data will provide executive boards and investors with a clear, documented overview of alignment, thereby improving the overall quality of future submissions.
Participants will work directly with a dedicated analyst, starting with an onboarding call to discuss V2.0 requirements and concluding with a structured review before receiving a final Readiness Assessment Report. SBTi Services clarified that participation does not constitute a pre-validation of targets, will not influence future validation outcomes, and does not guarantee successful validation under the final standard. All formal target decisions will remain entirely independent.
McKenna Smith, Managing Director of SBTi Services, stated that ensuring a smooth transition to the Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 is a top priority for the organisation. She noted that the launch allows companies to gain a better understanding of their current standing and outlined that now is the ideal time to build capacity ahead of the standard becoming fully operational in 2027.
