ESG & sustainability
How to set science based targets and ensure implementation of pathways to meet emission reduction goals.
Establishing science-based targets requires rigorous framing, clear governance, credible data, and disciplined execution. This guide outlines practical steps to align corporate strategy, stakeholder expectations, and operational choices with scientifically grounded climate pathways, while maintaining resilience and competitive advantage through transparent reporting, adaptive plans, and actionable accountability across the organization.
August 03, 2025 - 3 min Read
In today’s climate-aware economy, setting science-based targets (SBTs) is more than a compliance exercise; it is a strategic signal to investors, customers, and employees that a company commits to credible decarbonization. The first step is to define the boundary and baseline clearly—identifying direct emissions (Scope 1), energy-related indirect emissions (Scope 2), and the most material value-chain emissions (Scope 3). Organizations should choose a recognized framework, such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), to anchor targets to global temperature goals. This requires collaboration across departments, from finance and procurement to product innovation and facilities management, ensuring every unit understands how its actions contribute to a shared trajectory.
After selecting the framework, leadership must translate abstract targets into concrete, time-bound milestones. This includes establishing a long-term emissions path that aligns with the Paris Agreement while setting nearer-term milestones to maintain momentum. A credible plan quantifies reductions by technology, geography, and function, and links these reductions to budget cycles and capital investments. Decision-making processes should incorporate a bias toward low- or zero-emission options, such as energy efficiency programs, electrification where feasible, and supply chain engagement. Organizations should also map regulatory risks, market shifts, and potential policy incentives to avoid misalignment between targets and external realities.
Strategy must translate into tangible, scalable actions across value chains.
Governance is the backbone of any effective SBT program. Establish a steering group with executive sponsorship, preferably chaired by a C-suite leader who has authority to reallocate resources. Assign a cross-functional team responsible for data collection, calculation, and reporting, with defined roles and escalation paths. Create a cadence for review that pairs quarterly operation updates with biannual target assessments. Align incentives so that managers are rewarded not only for cost savings but also for progress toward decarbonization. Transparency matters, so communicate progress publicly and integrate learnings from pilot projects into a broader rollout, ensuring that early successes inform later-stage scaling.
A robust data infrastructure is essential to track emissions accurately and forecast pathway outcomes. Implement a single source of truth for emissions data that aggregates information from utilities, suppliers, and manufacturing systems, while preserving data quality through validation rules and audit trails. Invest in digital tools that enable granular visibility—down to facility, process, and product level—without compromising confidentiality where necessary. Establish data governance that defines who can access what information, how data is collected, and how discrepancies are resolved. Regularly test data against external benchmarks and adapt calculations as methodologies evolve to maintain credibility and investor confidence.
Collaboration and transparency build trust with stakeholders and markets.
The path from targets to execution starts with energy efficiency and process optimization, delivering immediate carbon savings while lowering operating costs. Conduct systematic energy audits, prioritize high-impact retrofits, and implement advanced HVAC, lighting, and industrial automation upgrades. Where feasible, shift to cleaner energy sources, including on-site generation or long-term power purchase agreements that support additional renewables on the grid. Simultaneously, reimagine logistics and transportation, exploring modal shifts, route optimization, and vehicle electrification. Engaging suppliers early—through expectations, training, and capability-building—helps align the entire value chain with the company’s decarbonization ambitions.
Innovation plays a central role in meeting ambitious pathways. Invest in research and development that targets lower-carbon materials, circular economy concepts, and product redesigns that reduce energy intensity. Encourage pilot programs that test novel technologies, such as carbon capture, electrified heat, or alternative feedstocks, and establish clear criteria to scale successful pilots. Financial models should capture both upfront capital expenditures and long-term operating savings to demonstrate a compelling business case. Fostering a culture of experimentation, with careful risk management and staged rollouts, helps the organization adapt quickly as new technologies mature and policy landscapes evolve.
Real-world implementation requires disciplined sequencing and risk-aware planning.
Stakeholder engagement is not a one-off exercise but an ongoing dialogue that informs target realism and acceptance. Engage investors with transparent scenario analysis, highlighting how different climate outcomes affect financial performance, capital allocation, and risk exposure. Communicate to employees about the rationale behind strategic choices and provide training that builds decarbonization fluency across functions. For customers and communities, share credible progress reports, explain product-level emissions, and demonstrate how sustainability commitments align with broader societal goals. Partnerships with governments, industry groups, and non-governmental organizations can unlock shared learning, pooled investments, and coordinated decarbonization efforts across sectors.
External reporting should be rigorous, consistent, and comparable. Align disclosures with recognized standards (such as TCFD, SASB, and GRI) and maintain a clear thread from targets to actual results. Publish annual progress dashboards that illustrate emissions intensity, reductions achieved, and remaining gaps relative to the SBT path. Explain assumptions, data quality controls, and any deviations from the original plan, along with the rationale for corrective actions. When stakeholders see coherent narratives linking governance, data integrity, and action, credibility grows and risk management strengthens.
Embedding sustainability into culture ensures durable, long-term results.
Implementation planning begins with a detailed road map that assigns responsibilities, milestones, and resource requirements for each program. Break the journey into phases, starting with low-hanging opportunities and gradually tackling more complex transitions. For every initiative, quantify energy savings, emissions reductions, and payback periods to support investment decisions. Build resilience into the plan by identifying critical failure points, such as supply disruptions or technology maturity gaps, and design contingency measures. Regularly revisit assumptions about growth, demand, and market conditions, adjusting the path as necessary to stay aligned with the science-based trajectory.
Tracking and governance controls ensure plan integrity over time. Establish monthly progress reviews that compare actual performance against targets, flagging variances and root causes. Use scenario planning to test the resilience of the pathway under different macro conditions, including energy price volatility and policy shifts. Maintain an auditable trail of decisions, approvals, and changes to the target framework to support internal governance and external scrutiny. Celebrate milestones, but also demand continuous improvement, encouraging teams to challenge incumbents and pursue opportunities that yield higher impact with acceptable risk.
Culture change is often the difference between aspirational targets and sustained outcomes. Embed decarbonization into performance conversations, recruitment, and daily routines so that everyone understands how their work contributes to the broader objective. Recognize that job roles may evolve as technology and processes change, and provide retraining opportunities that help employees stay relevant. Leadership should model behaviors consistent with the pathway—opting for energy-efficient choices, collaborating across functions, and communicating successes and setbacks with honesty. A learning mindset embedded in governance accelerates adaptation, maintains momentum, and reinforces the organization’s commitment to doing the right thing for the climate and the bottom line.
Finally, resilience and adaptability are essential as science and policy evolve. Maintain flexibility to adjust targets if new evidence alters the feasible pathway, while preserving the core objective of meaningful emissions reductions. Build a continuous improvement loop: measure, reflect, revise, and reapply. Leverage market signals, technological breakthroughs, and cross-industry collaborations to identify opportunities that could accelerate progress or unlock supplementary benefits such as energy security, financial stability, and reputational strength. By treating science-based targets as living commitments rather than fixed proclamations, a company sustains legitimacy, attracts capital, and helps shape a more sustainable economic landscape.
