17 April, 2026

Corporate climate target‑setting continues to accelerate, according to the SBTi’s latest Trend Tracker, despite reports of companies struggling with achieving their targets, and political and media narratives suggesting a slowdown in climate action. 

Rather than companies stepping away from climate commitments, the data shows that climate action remains firmly on the strategic agenda. With an increase in companies setting net zero targets, it’s also clear that the long‑term view remains a priority alongside near‑term action.

Along with the accelerating pace of adoption, the Tracker also highlights increasing reach. Climate target setting is no longer concentrated in Europe, with Asian companies playing a central role in the recent growth, and adoption expanding into sectors traditionally seen as “hard to abate”, with complex supply chains and high Scope 3 emissions, like healthcare, technology and materials. This points to a growing acceptance that the ‘easy wins’ have largely been achieved, and that meaningful progress now requires tackling decarbonisation in the more challenging parts of the economy.

This is great news. However, the world is now more than halfway through the decisive decade for climate action, and the report makes one thing clear: targets on their own are not enough. The SBTi reinforces the urgency of establishing credible decarbonisation plans rather than aspirational targets alone. The next phase must be defined by credible, science‑aligned transition plans that turn targets into tangible change.

The message is simple. Setting a science‑based target still matters, but what really counts now is whether organisations can show how they plan to achieve it. Get in touch to find out how to do that.

By Lucy Bell