Corporate climate ambition is accelerating at pace. New data from the Science Based Targets initiative shows a 40% increase in companies setting validated science-based targets in 2025, bringing the global total close to 10,000. At the same time, net zero targets have grown even faster, rising by more than 60% year on year.
This is more than incremental progress. It reflects a structural shift in how organisations are approaching climate action, moving from high level ambition to measurable, science aligned commitments.
From ambition to business strategy
What is changing is not just the number of companies setting targets, but how deeply those targets are being embedded into core business strategy. Climate considerations are increasingly influencing investment decisions, shaping supply chain design and redefining how organisations manage risk.
The Science Based Targets initiative highlights that companies adopting these frameworks are often better positioned to navigate regulatory change and respond to growing investor expectations. As a result, climate strategy is becoming closely linked to long term business performance rather than sitting alongside it.
A global shift in momentum
While Europe remains a leader in overall adoption, momentum is building rapidly in other regions. Asia in particular is emerging as a key growth area, reflecting its central role in global manufacturing and supply chains. This shift signals that climate ambition is no longer concentrated in a handful of markets but is becoming embedded across international value chains.
As more organisations commit to science-based targets, expectations are cascading across borders and industries, creating a more connected and accountable global system.
Why science-based targets matter
Science-based targets are designed to align corporate emissions reductions with what climate science says is necessary to limit global warming in line with the Paris Agreement. The urgency behind this alignment is reinforced by findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which continues to stress the need for rapid and sustained emissions reductions this decade.
For businesses, these targets provide a clear and credible framework for action. They help translate complex climate science into practical pathways, while also strengthening transparency and accountability.
Implications for supply chains
The impact of this shift is being felt most clearly across supply chains. As more companies set science-based targets, suppliers are increasingly expected to measure, disclose and reduce their own emissions. This is driving tangible change across logistics, transport and procurement, where decarbonisation is becoming a shared responsibility rather than an individual ambition.
In this context, climate targets are no longer just about reporting. They are shaping operational decisions and influencing how supply chains are designed and managed.
The bigger picture
Despite ongoing economic and political uncertainty, the direction of travel is clear. Corporate climate action is not slowing down. It is scaling.
The rapid growth in science-based targets signals a move from commitment to implementation. Climate strategy is becoming embedded in how organisations operate and compete, and the focus is shifting towards delivery.
For businesses, the challenge is no longer whether to act, but how quickly they can turn targets into measurable outcomes
Read the Science Based Targets Initiative’s 2025 tracker report here: SBTi-TrendTracker-Apr-2026.pdf