The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has unveiled its much-anticipated SBTi Financial Institutions Guidance. This is a big step forward in how the financial services industry works to meet global climate targets. This comprehensive resource aims to equip financial institutions with the methodology and tools needed to set net-zero targets grounded in the best available climate science. Officially referred to as the Financial Institutions Net-Zero (FINZ) Standard, this guidance is designed to help firms plan a credible transition path towards net zero, covering both operational and finance emissions.
The Science-Based Targets Initiative, a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and WWF, was launched to help companies and institutions align their climate actions with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
SBTi's mission is to mobilise the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through science-aligned target setting.
Organisations aligning with SBTi benefit from:
The advice on how to align goals with SBTi stresses the importance of having clear rules, collecting data in a way that is open and honest and using methods that are in line with existing and new net zero strategies. This also underpins the newly released SBTi Financial Institutions Guidance, outlining how the finance sector joins the net-zero movement through science-based targets.
As its 2025 flagship release, the SBTi financial institutions guidance brings its industry-specific methodology FINZ standard, tailored to financial services. Key aspects include:
Purpose and Scope
It is designed specifically for financial entities that derive 5% or more of their revenue from at least one of the following five activities:
This definition covers a wide range of commercially operated, private, and public financial institutions, including public pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. Organisations generating less than 5% of their revenue from financial activities are encouraged, but not required, to use the standard when setting science-based targets.
Interoperability with the Climate Action Ecosystem
To ensure alignment with the broader climate action landscape, the Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard allows the use of multiple recognised methodologies for tracking portfolio alignment progress, including those provided by reputable third-party providers. The Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard Implementation List identifies which of these methodologies meet SBTi’s quality criteria, making them suitable for measuring and reporting progress against alignment targets.
Complementing the Corporate Net-Zero Standard
The Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard is designed to be integrated closely with the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard to cover all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scopes and categories:
The guidance specifies when businesses must use the Corporate Net-Zero Standard or other relevant sector-specific guidance alongside the financial institutions’ framework, ensuring full emissions coverage and methodological consistency.
Timeline and Milestones
Financial institutions aiming to reach net zero using the SBTi Financial Institutions Guidance should follow the structured journey designed for other sectors, while taking into account industry-specific adjustments needed.
1. Build Internal Governance
2. Conduct Comprehensive Emissions Accounting
3. Choose Appropriate Methodologies and Scenarios
4. Set Near-Term and Long-Term Targets
5. Align Reporting and Transparency
Learn More: Set Science-Based Targets for Net Zero Goals | Tunley Environmental
The SBTi Financial Institutions Guidance offers significant benefits for financial institutions seeking strategic pathways to achieve net zero:
Through these benefits, financial institutions can integrate credible net-zero targets into their core strategy, all underpinned by verifiable and measurable science-based targets.
Timber and Wood Fibre Pathway Revision Project
SBTi has announced a call for experts to support its Timber and Wood Fibre Pathway Revision Project. This initiative seeks to refine sector-specific decarbonisation guidance, recognising the unique carbon dynamics and supply chain complexities of timber and wood-based industries. Participation helps ensure that SBTi targets for forestry and wood-based companies are scientifically robust, credible and tailored to sector realities.
Consultation on New Automotive Industry Net-Zero Standard
SBTi has also opened a formal consultation on a new standard to accelerate the automotive industry’s net-zero transition. Given the automotive sector’s CO₂ impact and rapidly changing technological landscape, including electric vehicles, lightweighting and circularity, the new standard aims to:
These updates demonstrate SBTi’s commitment to sector-specific guidance, parallel to its SBTi Guidance for Financial Institutions and reinforce its leadership in advancing credible net zero strategies across the global economy.
The introduction of the SBTi Financial Institutions Guidance is a major step forward in climate leadership because it lets financial institutions set science-based targets and make their portfolios match the goals of the Paris Agreement. Organisations can clearly see how to decarbonise with structured net-zero targets that include both operational and financial emissions. Meanwhile, the SBTi's open calls for revisions to the timber sector and consultations with the automobile industry are further examples of how it helps define net-zero goals that are appropriate for each sector. Find out more about the right SBTi pathway for your business by exploring our align with SBTi page.