SBTi Seeks Sector Experts to Develop Automotive and Power Climate Standards

The Science Based Targets initiative issued a call in May 2024 for technical experts from industry, finance, academia and civil society to join Expert Advisory Groups for new Automotive and Power Sector standards. Applications were accepted until 17 July 2024, subsequently extended to 28 June 2024.

The Automotive Standard will update and replace the existing SBTi Land Transport Guidance, aligning it with the Corporate Net-Zero Standard and incorporating 1.5 degree-aligned pathways for automakers, auto parts manufacturers and manufacturers of new light duty vehicles, light commercial vehicles, medium freight trucks and heavy freight trucks. Cars and vans account for 48 percent of global transport emissions, and air pollution from diesel and petrol vehicles caused 4.2 million premature deaths in 2019. The Power Sector Standard will revise the existing electric utilities guidance, covering criteria for power generation companies to set near- and long-term science-based targets.

The power sector is central to any net-zero transition given that energy accounts for more than 75 percent of total global GHG emissions. India, which is rapidly expanding both coal-based and renewable power capacity, has a direct stake in a credible international power sector standard that acknowledges the development context of emerging economies. SBTi Expert Advisory Group members provide voluntary technical advice throughout the standard development lifecycle and are assessed on the basis of expertise, qualifications and potential conflicts of interest.

Over the subsequent 12 months, the SBTi planned to open public consultations on sector-specific standards and guidance for automotive, chemicals, electric utilities and power, the Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard and oil and gas. These consultations are designed to capture diverse stakeholder input across geographies and value chain positions. Indian companies in the automobile, power and chemical sectors, which are among the most trade-exposed and emissions-intensive in the economy, have a direct opportunity to shape the standards that their global customers and investors will increasingly expect them to comply with.

Key figure — Cars and vans account for 48% of global transport emissions