SBTi Seeks Technical Partner for Buildings Decarbonisation Framework Project

The Science Based Targets initiative has issued a Request for Proposals for a technical partner to support its Buildings Interoperability and Performance Frameworks Project. The project will examine how the SBTi Buildings Criteria and Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2 can work together to enable practical emissions target-setting across the buildings value chain.

SBTi has launched the Buildings Interoperability and Performance Frameworks Project, inviting proposals from organisations with expertise in greenhouse gas accounting, decarbonisation pathways, and the real estate and construction industries. The selected partner will conduct targeted research into alignment challenges between the SBTi Buildings Criteria and Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2, as well as assess whether performance frameworks—including non-emissions metrics and building-level certification schemes—can credibly drive decarbonisation. The project is expected to run from Q1 to Q3 2026.

The buildings sector accounts for more than a third of global energy-related emissions and faces growing exposure to climate-related financial losses, including billions of dollars in construction delays caused by extreme weather annually. Clarifying how existing SBTi standards interact in the buildings sector is critical for companies seeking to set credible targets. The research will be informative only and will not alter current target-setting requirements under the Buildings Criteria V1.1, ensuring continuity for companies already in the process.

All applications must be submitted by 17 October 2025, with full details outlined in the Request for Proposals. The project will operate in an advisory and support capacity and findings are expected to inform future standard development rather than immediate policy changes. By strengthening the interoperability of its buildings and corporate standards, SBTi aims to broaden the uptake of science-based targets across one of the economy's most carbon-intensive sectors.

Key figure — October 17, 2025 application deadline