Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN)
In response to growing environmental threats, businesses are expected to align their operations with the health of the planet. The Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) provides a science-driven approach to help companies assess their footprint and set impactful goals for ecological recovery.
SBTN makes it easier to move from intent to implementation—across key ecosystems like freshwater, land, biodiversity, and oceans. IDS offers expert guidance to help you embed these targets meaningfully and transparently into your sustainability roadmap.
What Sets SBTN Apart from SBTi?
How SBTN Powers Nature-First Strategies
SBTN helps businesses take nature-positive steps using clear scientific guidance. The first step is figuring out where a company affects nature the most—across its own operations and supply chain. Then comes a screening to identify major impacts or dependencies on nature, especially around the five big causes of nature loss named by IPBES: how land and sea are used, overuse of resources, pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
After that, companies move into a prioritization phase. Here, they identify critical areas or species that need help—whether it’s protecting threatened wildlife or restoring damaged ecosystems. Based on this, they create measurable targets and track their progress in areas like land, water, and oceans.
SBTN: How to Implement & Monitor Progress
Organizations looking to adopt science-based targets for nature can follow SBTN’s structured five-step method—a clear, science-driven path toward positive environmental action.
1. Evaluate your Impact
Start by evaluating your value chain to identify key environmental impacts and dependencies—like water use, land conversion, or pollution. Screening tools can help pinpoint where these issues occur in operations or supply chains.
2. Target Critical Issues
Use the assessment results to focus on high-impact areas—specific regions, ecosystems, or issues that matter most to both nature and your business.
3. Establish Science-Based Targets
Measure your current footprint and define time-bound goals for areas like water and land—such as cutting water use or eliminating deforestation. SBTN offers detailed technical guidance to support this step.
4. Implement
Translate targets into on-ground action. This may involve improving water efficiency, shifting to sustainable agriculture, or investing in ecosystem restoration.
5. Measure Your Progress
Regularly monitor your performance, validate results, and refine actions as needed. SBTN provides frameworks and a public tracker to support transparency and accountability.
Support tools, case studies, and learning modules are available throughout the process to guide organizations at every step.
SBTN Compliance Backed by Technical Expertise
SBTN implementation isn’t one-size-fits-all—it needs custom strategies and expert insight. IDS helps organizations navigate the Science Based Targets for Nature framework through a detailed, step-by-step process. We ensure proper validation and disclosure, empowering you to confidently report and comply with SBTN protocols.
We also support sector-specific needs, helping corporates and financial institutions create nature-positive outcomes. Make your SBTN adoption smoother and more impactful with guidance from specialists who understand both business and biodiversity.
Let IDS help you begin your SBTN integration journey today.
Business Advantages of Using the SBTN Framework
1. Stay Ahead of Regulations
Setting SBTN goals early allows businesses to stay ahead of emerging environmental regulations such as the TNFD framework and the EU’s CSRD. This proactive stance reduces compliance challenges down the line.
2. Strengthen Risk Management
SBTN helps companies address nature-related risks like water shortages, biodiversity-related supply chain disruptions, and reputational threats—ultimately improving resilience and protecting profits.
3. Drive Innovation & Efficiency
Analyzing nature impact areas under SBTN often reveals ways to innovate operations and supply chains, leading to increased efficiency and reduced operational costs.
4. Improve Investment Potential
As investors give more weight to environmental risks, aligning with SBTN positions companies to access green capital and appeal to ESG-focused stakeholders.
Scientific Foundation of SBTN Nature Targets
The SBTN initiative expands the climate-oriented Science Based Targets (SBTs) by highlighting the urgent links between nature degradation and climate change. Damaged natural systems like forests and oceans absorb less carbon, worsening climate issues. Meanwhile, shifts in climate contribute to biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance.
This approach is grounded in the latest scientific findings on planetary boundaries and environmental tipping points, drawing insights from respected bodies such as the IPCC and IPBES. SBTN provides a unified approach to help organizations evaluate their impact and dependence on natural ecosystems across five categories: freshwater, land, ocean, climate, and biodiversity. Initial guidance has been released for land and freshwater.
Implementing SBTN Goals with Clarity and Impact
IDS provides strategic support for companies committed to science-based environmental progress. By aligning with the SBTN Framework for Nature & Climate, our solutions apply the AR3T model to drive tangible outcomes across biodiversity and climate impact areas.
We conduct structured assessments—via stakeholder workshops, data capture, and ecosystem footprinting—to identify high-impact zones and set performance benchmarks you can measure.
Let IDS help you translate your sustainability vision into nature-positive results.
Next Steps in the SBTN Journey
SBTN’s relevance is rising as international policies and disclosure frameworks evolve. Regulatory momentum behind nature-focused standards like TNFD signals growing pressure on companies to adopt robust, science-based methodologies—something SBTN already offers.
The framework is actively expanding to address areas like oceanic ecosystems and the climate-nature nexus. Businesses that embrace SBTN early are positioned to lead sustainability efforts and shape emerging best practices in the sector.
How IDS Simplifies Your Sustainability Journey
1. Ready-to-use SBTN Template
Access a streamlined reporting journey using our SBTN-aligned templates, built to ensure your data is both accurate and regulation-ready.
2. Auto-mapping of Data
Automated systems collect and match detailed data to SBTN indicators, helping you pinpoint material topics accurately and channel your sustainability efforts wisely.
3. Incorporate Proven Practices
Stay on par with top performers by benchmarking your sustainability efforts. We help refine your data and ensure your SBTN reports are both comprehensive and credible.
4. Compelling, Impactful Reports
Strengthen your ESG narrative with impactful SBTN reporting that ensures visibility, transparency, and credibility.
Accelerate Your Sustainability Journey
FAQs
Although the SBTN is not a mandatory system, it plays a key role in preparing businesses for upcoming nature-related policies. Governments and global reporting authorities are increasingly focusing on biodiversity and ecosystems, with initiatives like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) gaining traction.
While the SBTN doesn’t establish carbon market mechanisms, it guides companies in implementing nature-based projects—such as forest restoration or preserving ecosystems—that may yield carbon credits. By prioritizing ecosystem integrity, SBTN ensures carbon offset efforts deliver real environmental benefits and avoid harm to biodiversity.
Implementing the SBTN framework can be challenging. Many organizations struggle with gathering consistent nature-related data across global supply chains due to limited standardization compared to carbon tracking. This complexity can slow progress and create implementation barriers.
The TNFD draws its structure from the well-known TCFD model and follows four core pillars:
- Governance: Oversight of nature-related risks and opportunities by leadership.
- Strategy: Impacts of nature-related issues on business models and financial planning.
- Risk & Impact Management: Methods to identify and handle nature-related risks and dependencies.
- Metrics & Targets: Indicators and goals used to measure nature-related performance.
This format enables cohesive reporting across climate and nature domains.
To integrate SBTN into existing business plans, begin with the “Assess” stage—evaluating how your operations and value chain interact with nature. Then, embed this insight into broader ESG goals and risk management practices for a unified approach.
SBTN plays a vital role in ecological preservation by turning scientific urgency into strategic actions for companies. It offers a reliable and standardized approach that helps businesses not just reduce environmental harm, but also actively restore natural systems.
TNFD serves as a disclosure framework to help companies communicate their nature-related risks, impacts, and dependencies to financial stakeholders. It is focused on transparency and investor decision-making.
SBTN, in contrast, offers a science-based method for companies to establish measurable goals to reduce environmental harm and foster restoration efforts.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is focused solely on climate change, helping companies set GHG reduction goals that align with the 1.5°C global warming threshold.
SBTN, however, takes a broader view—addressing biodiversity, freshwater, land use, ocean health, and more—providing a comprehensive path toward a regenerative, nature-positive world.
SBTN’s initial focus includes two key environmental domains:
- Freshwater: Tackling issues like overuse of surface and groundwater and pollution from nutrients.
- Land Use: Aiming to prevent the destruction of natural habitats and shrink human land footprints.
According to SBTN, being “nature positive” means supporting ecosystems and species in ways that reverse degradation. For businesses, this involves stopping current harm, repairing past damage, and creating net benefits for the natural environment.
Blogs
Industry Insights to Help You Stay Ahead in Compliance and Sustainability
Accelerate Compliance. Reduce Carbon Footprint. Unlock Sustainable Growth.
Our Global Presence
UK
London
EUROPE
Netherlands
USA
New York
INDIA
Mohali (HQ)
Mohali
Mohali
Chandigarh
Noida
Noida