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SBTN partners - welcome newcomers!
Our expert network continues to grow. We are thrilled to welcome two new additions to the partnership network:
- RSE Bénin, an NGO that works for the promotion of corporate social responsibility in Benin
- Stewardship Asia Centre, a leadership centre that promotes effective stewardship and governance across Asia and beyond.
You can find a full list of SBTN partners here.
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2021 TIMELINE:
To help you understand what to expect and when for the second half of this year, please see our latest Product Development Timeline below (and view a larger version of the image here):
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What's happening around the network?
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CROSS-CUTTING WORKSTREAM UPDATES
SBTN Guidance Updates to Steps 1a & 1b are now available for use and testing by the SBTN Corporate Engagement Program (CEP) and SBTN partners. It includes a range of changes to streamline the process, as well as templates and definitions to help companies in completing the steps. These guidance updates will be released publicly in late 2021 pending feedback from these groups. Access the updates here.
Metabolic, Systemiq and The Biodiversity Consultancy have put together a comprehensive database of tools applicable for the SBT setting process. As with the updates to the guidance mentioned above, this database is now available for use and testing by the SBTN CEP and our partners. Download the tools database here.
We have developed a new sectoral materiality tool that replaces the materiality matrix and can be used to complete Step 1a (sector-level materiality assessment). This tool has been updated to use ISIC sector classifications (rather than the broader GICS categories) and allows many sector categories to be assessed simultaneously, to aid companies with more complex value chains. Download the sectoral materiality tool here.
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Feedback on the guidance updates, tools database, and sectoral materiality tool is welcome via this survey by September 30.
You can access all of these documents via the SBTN Members-Only site (password: SBTNProgram).
*DISCLAIMER: The Members-Only site has the latest information on and opportunities for the Corporate Engagement Program, as well as useful links for all relevant information. This is a password protected page, accessible only to members of the SBTN Corporate Engagement Program (CEP), participants in the SBTN Referral Program, and SBTN NGO partners. Do not share the information on this page publicly, as these are draft documents and are subject to change. The information on this page should only be shared with companies which are explicitly working towards setting science based targets for nature. As a condition of using this site, SBTN expects companies, consultants, and NGOs to provide feedback as requested by SBTN.
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ISSUE HUB UPDATES
Biodiversity Hub:
Integration efforts are underway between the Biodiversity Hub and other hubs. We are in the process of developing a cross-cutting “biodiversity target setting framework” that could be integrated into the work of other Hubs.
The Biodiversity Hub is organizing a workshop to define Biodiversity Metrics in Target Settings. We are expecting peer review on these metrics among different experts by this summer.
Biodiversity workstreams:
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Species: A new STAR briefing note and detailed user guidance for STAR has been published on the IBAT site. To learn more, contact the STAR team (star@iucn.org)
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Ecosystems: This workstream is focused on EII (Ecosystem Integrity Index). More information regarding the Ecosystem Integrity Index Report and the draft methodology will come soon. Contact Samantha Hill (samantha.hill@unep-wcmc.org) for more information.
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Nature Contributions to People (NCPs): This workstream is developing concepts for linking NCP analysis with EII analysis and Earth Commission activities. Contact Pam Collins (pcollins@conservation.org) for more information.
Land Hub:
As initial inputs to methods for land SBTs, we expect the following outputs from the Land Hub to be complete by the end of December 2021; available for broader testing in early 2022:
- An initial method for calculating impacts of six select commodities (palm fruit, soy, rice, cotton, corn, industrial roundwood) on several land transformation and occupation indicators, likely also including terrestrial species (we will be pilot-testing commodity impact estimates for land intensive companies by Oct 2021);
- A measure of ecosystem intactness;
- Potentially, an estimated impact of commodity sourcing on nature’s contributions to people (likely pollination).
Ocean Hub:
In early July, Moss & Mollusk presented the draft strategy and implementation plan for the Ocean Hub to the SBTN Network Council. The proposal built on two workshops and is oriented toward addressing key impacts in the ocean, as well as harnessing opportunities for action. To move forward the work of the Ocean Hub on science-based targets, four working groups have been proposed: place-based nexus approach, value chain approach, sector approach, and cross-realm pollution. To learn more please contact Ellie Moss (ellie@mossandmollusk.com).
Freshwater Hub:
The Freshwater Hub has been busy piloting Steps 1 and 2 of our current methodology with three pilot companies as well as a number of other companies working through the guidance on their own. Through this process, the Hub has uncovered opportunities to clarify our method and add tools needed to help companies gather data and prioritize locations for target-setting. This summer, the Water Hub will be working through Step 3 with the three pilot companies with support from our consultants. For those interested in hearing more from the companies, please join us for one of our two World Water Week sessions scheduled for August 26th (10:30 PM Stockholm time) featuring General Mills and P&G and August 27th (11:30 AM Stockholm time) featuring Suntory.
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BUSINESS AND NATURE
SBTN’s initial corporate guidance came out in November 2020 and details a five-step process for companies to set science-based targets for nature. Find the Executive Summary of SBTN Initial Guidance translated into Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, French, and Chinese here.
Additional guidance on target setting as well as initial methods for water targets will be available by the end of 2021. Our deadline to release the full framework remains steadfast for the end of 2022.
SBTN Referral Program launch:
SBTN has received requests from companies looking for local service providers or NGOs who can help them get ready to set SBTs for nature. In response, we have established a formal Referral Program. We invite any interested partners to join this Program. Referral participants will be listed on SBTN’s website. Please find an overview of the Program and the Term of Use here.
If you are interested in becoming a Referral Program participant and being added to a public referral list on the SBTN website, please email corporate-engagement@sciencebasedtargetsnetwork.org. We will hold an orientation session for this program on 2 September.
SBTN Corporate Engagement Program:
SBTN’s Corporate Engagement Program (CEP) was established to undertake participatory design with a representative group of end-users (companies, industry coalitions, investors, and consultants). Please see this note on the Corporate Engagement Program and the participatory design of methods and tools with end-users.
The SBTN Corporate Engagement Program currently has 98 members: 58 companies, 32 consultancies, 6 industry coalitions, and 2 financial institutions. Find a full list of our current Corporate Engagement Program members here. Help us make it to 100 members!
We are currently seeking to fill engagement gaps in the mining and built environment sectors, as well as in the regions of Latin America, South Asia, China, and Africa. We have a lot more guidance and methods to test over the next year. If you are working with a company that might be interested in joining the SBTN Corporate Engagement Program, please connect them with Jess (jess@sbtnetwork.org).
Regional Corporate Engagement:
SBTN has now hosted introductory events in Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and China with collectively over 1,000 registrants from more than 70 countries, 573 total attendees, and 488 unique companies and consultants. Watch recent regional events on-demand on the SBTN Events page.
We encourage interested consultants and NGOs with regional language and sectoral expertise to join the SBTN Referral Program (see “SBTN Referral Program launch” above) and support companies from all parts of the world as they begin the journey to set science-based targets for nature.
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CITIES, CLIMATE AND NATURE
Our guidance to help cities set climate science-based targets was launched in November 2020. It is now available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Spanish here.
Cities Race to Zero
Over 700 cities have now joined UNFCCC’s Race to Zero campaign. Science-based target setting is at the core of the campaign commitment, with all cities pledging to set targets to reach net zero by 2050 and an interim target alignmed with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. SBTN’s core cities partners are supporting cities worldwide to join the campaign, set science-based targets, plan inclusive climate action and report progress. Sign up here.
Cities prototyping workshop report
The Biodiversity Consultancy and IUCN have been working to summarize the rich conversations of the November 2020 Cities Prototyping workshop into a concise report, available here.
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COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES
In case you missed it, we launched a new video and social media assets to raise awareness of nature science-based targets and encourage companies to join the Corporate Engagement Program. Help us spread the word - find the social pack here and share throughout your social channels.
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NATURE POSITIVE: BUILDING MOMENTUM
The Global Commons Alliance is taking the lead on explaining what is 'nature positive' and why it is the key to our future. Within the Global Commons Alliance, here at SBTN, key members of the technical team provide their perspective, underscoring the need for system-level change and the Earth Commission shares their scientific comment on the key elements that underpin ‘nature positive’.
Global Commons Situation Room: The Future is Nature Positive
On June 9, the GCA held the second Global Commons Situation Room meeting this year, focusing on the Alliance’s key deliverables for the next 12 months and the increasing momentum behind the nature positive campaign. The meeting was attended by 60 partner organisations and featured input from, among others, Dominic Waughray, Nigel Topping, Johan Rockström, Diane Holdorf, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez and Naoko Ishii of the Leadership Council, as well as the Executive Directors of each Alliance component. To watch or catch up on the event, please see the recording of the meeting, the slide deck, and the Miro board showing the timeline of key deliverables.
Breaking Boundaries: The Science of our Planet
This new documentary on Netflix highlights the need to adopt science-based targets for nature and contribute to a nature positive future. It is narrated by David Attenborough with Johan Rockström, co-chair of Global Common Alliance’s Earth Commission.
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RECENT EVENTS
May 27, Net Impact Approaches 2021. SBTN Council Chair, Kevin Moss, spoke at Sustain Value’s Net Impact Approaches 2021 Conference. Other speakers included the Capitals Coalition, the Predistribution Initiative, Natura and the organisers Sustain Value and Consciam.
May 27, Net Zero Nature. SBTN Executive Director, Erin Billman spoke at BusinessGreen’s Net Zero Nature Digital Event.
June 9, Global Commons Situation Room: Accelerating Planetary Stewardship. The Leadership Council of the Global Commons Alliance and its partners met to create the drumbeat for our community all the way to Stockholm+50.
June 22, Corporate Engagement Program Tools Session. The CEP members met to share, discuss, and collect feedback on 1) The draft roadmap for development of the SBTN toolkit; and 2) Ongoing work on Interim Products. Input from the CEP will be used to refine the draft roadmap and development of Interim Products.
June 29, SBTN Introductory Webinar to Science-Based Targets for Nature for Brazilian Companies. Delivered in Portuguese, this introductory webinar was co-hosted by CBD, CDP, Pacto Global Rede Brasil, WWF, and CEBDS. Find the recorded webinar here.
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