Customers, investors, and supply-chain partners increasingly expect companies to set science-based emissions targets. The SBTi is the most credible framework for doing so. This guide explains what the SBTi is, how it works, the latest Net-Zero Standard V2.0, and how to prepare.

What is the SBTi?

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body that validates corporate greenhouse-gas reduction targets against climate science (limiting warming to 1.5°C). It was founded by CDP, the UN Global Compact, WRI, and WWF.

An important point: the SBTi does not issue an ISO-style “certificate.” Instead, a company sets its own emissions-reduction targets and submits them to the SBTi for validation. As of January 2026, more than 10,000 companies held validated targets (around 13,000 including commitments), with 40%+ growth in 2025 and Asia emerging as a centre of gravity.

Types of SBTi targets

• Near-term targets: a 5–10 year emissions-reduction pathway.
• Long-term net-zero targets: under the Corporate Net-Zero Standard, reaching net zero by 2050 at the latest.
• Emission scopes: Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (purchased energy), and Scope 3 (value chain — usually the majority of emissions).

The process (5 stages)

1. Commit (optional) — announce intent to set science-based targets.
2. GHG inventory — measure Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions per the GHG Protocol.
3. Develop targets — set reduction targets using SBTi methods and criteria.
4. Submit & validate — submit to the SBTi (via SBTi Services) for validation.
5. Disclose — publish targets and report progress annually.

Latest update: Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0

The SBTi published the Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 on 11 June 2026 — its biggest overhaul since 2021. Key innovations:

• Company categories: Category A (large/mid-market) and Category B (most SMEs), with proportionate obligations.
• Differentiated support for SMEs and companies in lower-income countries.
• Context-specific targets by sector, geography, and legacy capital stock.
• An implementation focus, shifting from ambition to real-world delivery with transparent progress.

Timeline: V1.3.1 remains the applicable framework for validation in 2026 and accepts new submissions until 31 December 2027; from early 2027 companies may submit under V1.3.1 or V2.0; from 1 January 2028, V2.0 is mandatory for new targets.

If your company is setting targets in 2026, the SBTi recommends doing so now under the well-established V1.3.1 while building the data foundations V2.0 will require.

Why Scope 3 matters most

For most companies, Scope 3 (value-chain emissions) is the largest share — and the hardest to inventory, since it depends on supplier and partner data. Perfect data is not a prerequisite: start with what you have and improve over time. Under V2.0, Scope 3 targets remain optional for SMEs, but if you supply larger businesses, your emissions data becomes part of their compliance.

Our SBTi services in Vietnam

We are an independent consulting and training provider (the SBTi performs the validation):

• Training on the SBTi, GHG inventory (GHG Protocol), and science-based target setting.
• GHG inventory consulting across Scope 1/2/3 and value-chain data collection.
• Target development under V1.3.1, with foundations prepared for V2.0.
• Submission support until your targets are validated.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Does the SBTi issue a certificate? No. It validates a company’s emissions-reduction targets; it is not an ISO-style certification.

2. Can SMEs use the SBTi? Yes. The SBTi offers a dedicated route and accommodations for SMEs; Scope 3 targets are often optional for them.

3. Is Scope 3 mandatory? It depends on size and applicable criteria. Scope 3 is usually the majority of emissions and is highly important, though optional for SMEs.

4. Should we wait for V2.0 or act under V1.3.1? The SBTi recommends setting targets now under V1.3.1 while building data for V2.0.

Contact us for a business consultation

ISC Global Co., Ltd. Hotline: +84 933 096 426 – +84 868 591 260 Email: info@iscglobal.asia | van.pham@iscglobal.asia Website: iscglobal.asia | iscglobal.edu.vn

In the highly volatile global export race, borders are no longer merely geographical boundaries or battlegrounds of conventional security procedures. For enterprises targeting the US and European markets, the ultimate adversary is no longer low-cost competitors, but “dead time and the risk of elimination” due to failure to meet global emission reduction standards.

A supply chain with an ambiguous and untraceable carbon footprint is the biggest bottleneck that can break export momentum and freeze an enterprise’s cash flow under the pressure of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) or the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The “Awareness on Carbon Credits under Verra VCS Standard and Methodology” training course is the ultimate operational optimization solution, shifting enterprises from a position of “passive coping” to the privilege of “proactive green customs clearance” with superior speed and status.

1. Why Enterprises Cannot Bring a “Hit-or-Miss” Mindset to the Emission Reduction Equation

Many executives still view greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting or carbon credits as a secondary issue of the distant future, or handle it temporarily with superficial, mechanical measures just to polish ESG reports. This loose mindset turns an enterprise’s goods into an easy target for carbon tax penalties or outright rejection when international purchasing syndicates tighten regulations on emission control (Scope 1, 2, 3).

When a green data loophole or “greenwashing” behavior is detected at the destination port, the price to pay does not stop at financial fines; rather, the enterprise’s entire production system is put on “red alert”—resulting in rejected orders and a permanent ban from the global supply chain. ISC Global’s Verra VCS awareness training course was born to completely eliminate this hit-or-miss factor, forcing enterprises to establish a proactive and standardized defense process right from the roots.

2. The Four Core Lines of Defense Constituting the Power of the Verra VCS Standard

For an emission reduction project to be internationally recognized and issued commercial carbon credits (VCUs), the Verra VCS standard establishes a closed governance network through 4 strict technical lines of defense:

• The Line of Defense for “Additionality”: Ensures that the project overcomes conventional financial and legal barriers. The enterprise must prove that this green activity could not have occurred without the offsetting cash flow from selling carbon credits.
• The “No-Loophole” Baseline Scenario Process: Standardizes the establishment of the emission baseline transparently. The volume of carbon credits generated must be an actual measured figure, precisely decoupled from the variance against this reference baseline.
• The Leakage Defense Filter: Ensures that cutting emissions within the project boundary does not inadvertently increase greenhouse gases in another area or operational stage outside the project’s control boundaries.
• Permanence and Anti-Double Counting: Establishes a long-term, sustainable carbon storage mechanism and encrypts transactions on the Verra Registry system. This completely eradicates any possibility of data fraud, ensuring that a carbon credit is uniquely owned and retired by a single entity.

3. Competitive Advantage: Converting Carbon Capability into the Privilege of Dominating the Trade “Green Lane”

By mastering the methodologies and standards of Verra VCS, enterprises do not just obtain green credentials; more importantly, they buy Velocity of Movement and Exclusive Status in the global supply chain:

4. Implementation Roadmap: Restructuring Mindsets, Hands-on Field Training

Achieving carbon governance capability according to Verra VCS standards is not about completing a set of theoretical documents, but a comprehensive campaign to change operational behavior through ISC Global’s training course:

• Diagnosis & Context Shaping (Modules 1 & 2): Assess Scope 1, 2, 3 emission sources at the factory and comprehend the operational nature and pricing of the voluntary carbon market.
• Establishing Standard Specifications (Modules 3 & 4): Apply Verra’s 5 foundational principles and select the appropriate Methodology for each type of production (Renewable Energy, Waste Management, AFOLU – Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use, Industrial Projects).
• 8-Step Project Life Cycle Scenario Training (Module 5): Master the carbon project lifecycle from Feasibility Study, PDD (Project Design Document) development, Validation, Monitoring, to Verification.
• System Filing & Approval (Module 6): Practice the rigorous Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) data workflow to prepare for credit issuance and trading on the Verra Registry system.
• Hands-on Field Workshop: Trainees directly analyze emission sources, screen, and sketch out feasible carbon project opportunities right on the current operational model of their own enterprise.

5. The Role of the Verra VCS Standard in Modern Corporate Governance (ESG)

In the context of ascending sustainability standards, understanding and applying Verra VCS is the direct answer to the G (Governance) axis and the resilience of the supply chain against contemporary epochal shifts:

• System Transparency: Transform vague “carbon neutrality” commitments into precise technical indicators capable of being measured and independently audited by international Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs).
• Overlap-Free Operations: Seamlessly integrate Verra VCS carbon governance mindsets with the enterprise’s existing management systems, such as ISO 14064 (GHG Quantification and Reporting) or ISO 50001 (Energy Management), into a unified management apparatus.
• Brand Reputation Insurance: Absolutely prevent legal risks associated with environmental “greenwashing” allegations, safeguarding investment capital and elevating the strategic credibility of the enterprise before shareholders and global partners.

Conclusion: Investing in Carbon Capability is Investing in the Future of Operations

The Awareness Course on Carbon Credits under the Verra VCS Standard is not an administrative hassle to get through. It is the ultimate strategic lever that helps exporting enterprises master the speed of green operations, protect their supply chains against all volatility, and confidently lead the game in the international economic arena.

What sector is your enterprise currently operating in (Manufacturing, Energy, Agriculture, or Logistics) and what green barrier pressures are you facing when exporting? Share your details so we can provide in-depth consultation and tailor the most suitable carbon capacity advancement roadmap for your business model!

Contact us today to receive dedicated advice and the most suitable solution for your business!

Hotline: +84 933096426 – +84 868 591 260

Email:

• info@iscglobal.asia
• van.pham@iscglobal.asia

Website:

• https://iscglobal.asia/
• https://iscglobal.edu.vn/

Partners in Vietnam:

Contact Vietnam representative: Duc Luong Services

Hotline: +84 933096426 – +84 868 591 260

Email: ducluongservices@gmail.com

Website:

• https://ducluongservices.com

STC VN Co., Ltd.

Hotline: +84 933096426 – +84 868 591 260

Email: info@staunchlyservices.com.vn

Website: https://stauchlyservices.com.vn