Companies setting first science-based targets
Set boundaries, calculate targets, and prepare evidence before formal SBTi submission.
SBTi TARGET-SETTING GUIDANCE
A target built to SBTi's method, ready for SBTi's review.
The Science Based Targets initiative validates targets against its own methodology. We help you build a target that meets that methodology before you submit it, we do not validate it ourselves.
Who this service is for
Businesses renewing or updating targets
Review the current target against applicable SBTi criteria, data quality, and business changes.
Manufacturers with material Scope 3 emissions
Build the Scope 3 screening and value-chain data needed to support target-setting decisions.
01
What SBTi actually validates
SBTi is an independent body. It sets criteria for what counts as a science-based target, covering scope of emissions included, ambition level, timeframe, and reporting commitments, and reviews submitted targets against those criteria before approving them for public use. That validation function sits entirely with SBTi. No advisory firm, including Prakrti, can substitute for it or guarantee its outcome.
02
Where advisory support fits
Most target submissions that get rejected or sent back fail on data completeness or methodology mismatch, an incomplete Scope 3 inventory, a base year that does not meet SBTi's recency requirements, or a target boundary that excludes material emissions sources. We work through SBTi's current criteria against your emissions inventory, identify where your data or target structure would not meet the bar, and help you close those gaps before submission.
This includes structuring your near-term and, where relevant, long-term net-zero targets to SBTi's specific requirements, and preparing the supporting inventory and documentation SBTi's review process expects to see.
03
What we do not do
We do not validate targets, approve them, or speak on SBTi's behalf. Formal target validation, and any public listing of an approved target, comes directly from SBTi after its own independent review.
What you receive
Clear outputs your team can use
- 01Criteria and eligibility review
- 02Base-year and boundary assessment
- 03Target calculation support
- 04Scope 3 coverage review
- 05Submission evidence pack
- 06Gap and action register
How the engagement works
A practical, evidence-led process
- 01
Select the route
Confirm company type, sector guidance, intended target, and currently applicable SBTi standard.
- 02
Test the inventory
Review base year, scopes, exclusions, recalculation policy, and Scope 3 materiality.
- 03
Model the target
Calculate target pathways and document choices against current criteria.
- 04
Prepare submission
Assemble evidence and responses for submission; SBTi alone decides validation.
Prepare for what is next
SBTi standards are in transition
SBTi states that Version 1.3.1 remains the applicable framework for target validation throughout 2026, while validation under Version 2.0 begins in 2027. Companies should use the version and transition route current at submission rather than designing to an outdated summary.
Standards and frameworks
Work grounded in recognised guidance
- SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 1.3.1 for 2026 validation
- SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 transition guidance
- GHG Protocol
Questions businesses ask
Frequently asked questions
Does Prakrti validate SBTi targets?
No. SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) is the only body that validates targets against its methodology. Prakrti provides advisory support to help build a target and underlying data aligned with SBTi's criteria ahead of submission, but the validation decision rests entirely with SBTi.
What data does SBTi require for target validation?
SBTi requires a company-wide GHG inventory covering Scope 1, 2, and, for most companies, a significant share of Scope 3 emissions, a defined base year meeting SBTi's recency criteria, and a target structured to SBTi's ambition and boundary requirements, which vary by sector and company size.
How long does SBTi validation take?
Timelines are set by SBTi's own review process and vary with submission volume and target complexity. Advisory preparation work before submission, building the inventory and structuring the target, is a separate and usually longer phase than SBTi's own review.
Can a small or mid-sized Indian company set an SBTi target?
Yes. SBTi offers a streamlined process for small and medium enterprises alongside its standard process for larger companies, with different data and validation requirements for each track.
Is an SBTi target the same as a net-zero commitment?
Not automatically. SBTi's near-term targets address emissions reduction over roughly five to ten years. A formal SBTi net-zero target is a separate, more stringent standard requiring deep long-term reduction plus a defined approach to residual emissions, validated separately.
Next step
Build a target ready for SBTi review
Tell us your sector and current emissions data. We will map what SBTi's criteria would require before you approach them.
Discuss target-setting