SBTi Academy Unveils Global Register of Science-Based Target Setting Professionals. ESG Broadcast Shares Key Takeaways
Key Extract
On September 30, 2025, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) published the first official global register of certified target setting professionals, marking a major milestone for corporate sustainability. This registry featured experts who have completed assessment to confirm their technical skills. The SBTi Academy simultaneously launched its new e-learning platform to support global training efforts. These crucial steps addressed the urgent worldwide demand for specialized sustainability skills.
Certified experts navigated through a seven-part assessment process to demonstrate advanced technical proficiency in their field. They mastered complex greenhouse gas inventory assessments and target modelling methodologies. Certification confirmed their high level of skill, helping businesses tackle target setting technicalities. The new academy facilitated all certification assessments and technical training needs.
A clear need for this formalized expertise became evident as global demand for green talent increased. Demand for green professionals significantly outpaced supply twofold, highlighting a major market constraint for corporate decarbonization efforts. Global demand increased by 11.6%, while the actual supply of skilled corporate professionals for green talent rose only by 5.6%, according to the platform launch data. Many companies struggled with the early stage of internal skills required for setting science-based targets.
Surveys revealed that 76% of businesses identified a lack of early-stage skills as their greatest internal upskilling challenge. This capacity gap severely affected corporate decarbonization planning and execution across various sectors. Moreover, 68% of sustainability leaders were “homegrown,” often hired from inside their own companies to fill urgent roles.
Tracy Wyman, Chief Impact Officer of the Science-Based Targets initiative, said:
“While the appetite for science-based targets is growing, access to skills is a common barrier to target-setting. By providing foundational knowledge for those just setting out on their own sustainability journey and providing certification for sustainability experts already helping companies on their journeys to decarbonize, the SBTi Academy aims to bridge the skills gap to set companies up for success.”
The SBTi Academy launched with distinct hubs, designed to cater to various existing professional skill levels and backgrounds globally. Beginners accessed the free Onboarding Hub for essential foundational knowledge and understanding of technical concepts. Advanced training was located within the Practitioners’ Hub, covering detailed GHG Protocol applications and net-zero strategies. The Certification Hub centered on specialized assessment for professionals seeking formal target setting credentials.
Strategic significance lies in the initiative’s capacity to formalize and rapidly scale the critical skills needed for corporate climate action worldwide effectively. The new public register will provide a trusted resource for companies seeking external proficiency for their decarbonization projects. Providing foundational knowledge and specialized certification will ultimately help bridge the existing sustainability skills gap for businesses. This necessary step accelerated mass decarbonization of the global corporate sector by empowering expert professionals.
