You’ve submitted your SBTi targets. Now what?
The excitement of completing your submission to the Science Based Targets initiative is often quickly replaced by a nagging question: what happens next? The validation process can feel opaque. You’re waiting, wondering if your targets will pass, and uncertain about timelines. Understanding what’s actually happening behind the scenes can ease that anxiety considerably.
The good news is that the SBTi has made significant improvements to make the process more transparent, predictable, and efficient. Here’s what you need to know about what happens after you hit submit.
The Portal Does Quality Control Before Your Submission Even Reaches Validators
The upgraded SBTi Services Validation Portal isn’t just a filing system. It’s actively working for you from the moment you start entering data.
One of the most important changes is automatic technical alignment checks. These are built into the portal and catch incomplete or erroneous submissions before they ever reach the validation team. If your form has missing critical data, conflicting information, or fails to meet basic formatting requirements, you’ll get flagged immediately. You can then correct these issues before formal submission (source: Science Based Targets Initiative; https://sciencebasedtargets.org/blog/what-to-expect-from-the-sbti-services-validation-portal-upgrade).
This might sound like bureaucracy, but it’s actually a time-saver. It dramatically reduces the back-and-forth that used to happen when validators had to request clarifications on basic information. Your submission arrives cleaner, which means validation moves faster.
Before you submit, ensure your greenhouse gas inventory is comprehensive and accurate. This is where validators will scrutinize most closely. If you haven’t already, take time to audit your carbon data thoroughly—catching errors now is infinitely easier than correcting them after validation has begun.
Validation Takes Around 12 Weeks, But There’s Often a Queue
Once your submission passes the portal’s initial checks, here’s the realistic timeline: the SBTi aims to begin validation within 60 business days of your submission. Then, the actual validation assessment typically takes up to 12 weeks (source: Science Based Targets Initiative; https://sciencebasedtargets.org/how-it-works).
However, there’s an important caveat. Due to high demand for SBTi validation, there can be waiting periods of up to six months before validation even begins. This isn’t because of slowness—it’s simply a capacity issue. Thousands of companies are submitting targets, and the SBTi is working to expand its validation capacity, but the demand has outpaced resources (source: edie.net; https://www.edie.net/your-faqs-on-setting-science-based-targets-answered-by-the-sbti/).
The takeaway: don’t assume validation starts the week after you submit. Plan accordingly, and if you can, reserve your validation slot early to secure your place in the queue.
You’ll Get Structured Feedback, Not Just a Pass or Fail
When validators assess your targets, they’re checking your compliance across several dimensions.
First, they verify that you’ve adhered to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, the Scope 2 Guidance, and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard). This isn’t optional—these are foundational requirements.
Second, they evaluate your target structure. If you’re setting a net-zero target, validators confirm that your submission includes the four essential elements: a near-term science-based target, a long-term science-based target, neutralization of residual emissions, and any beyond value chain mitigation commitments (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard).
Third, they assess your target boundary. This includes your organizational boundary, GHG coverage (which scopes you’re including), and your emissions coverage (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard).
If your targets don’t meet SBTi criteria, you won’t simply receive a rejection email. Instead, the SBTi Services team provides detailed feedback to help you understand where your targets fell short and how to refine them. This iterative process is designed to support you toward validation, not to block you (source: Science Based Targets Initiative FAQs; https://sciencebasedtargets.org/faqs).
You’ll also have greater visibility into the validation process itself. The new portal allows you to track the status of your submission and, if issues are flagged early, address them directly within the platform before formal validation begins. This reduces last-minute pressure and potential delays (source: Science Based Targets Initiative; https://sciencebasedtargets.org/blog/what-to-expect-from-the-sbti-services-validation-portal-upgrade).
Special Routes Exist for SMEs and Large Financial Institutions
Not every company follows the same validation path. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can access a streamlined, fully managed validation route that circumvents many of the complexities of the standard process (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard). If your company qualifies as an SME, ask about this option—it can significantly reduce validation time and administrative burden.
Financial institutions face additional requirements but also have dedicated guidance. These organizations must specify particular data elements like base and target years, which then appear on the SBTi Target Dashboard after validation (source: Science Based Targets Initiative; https://sciencebasedtargets.org/blog/what-to-expect-from-the-sbti-services-validation-portal-upgrade).
Your Targets Need to Reflect Current SBTi Standards
Here’s a crucial detail many companies overlook: if the SBTi releases sector-specific guidance after you’ve submitted, you may need to revisit your targets. Companies are required to adopt sector-specific guidance within six months of its publication, and if your targets no longer meet current criteria after new guidance arrives, you’ll need to recalculate and resubmit (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard).
This is where understanding your target year becomes vital. The decisions you make about your critical role of target year now will influence whether future guidance changes affect you significantly.
What Happens if Your Targets Are Approved
When validation is successful, your targets are published on the SBTi website with a status of “Targets set.” This is a major milestone.
But here’s the important part: you then have six months from the approval date to publicly announce your validated targets. This isn’t optional. If you don’t make a public announcement within this window, your targets must go through the approval process again unless you’ve negotiated a different publication timeline in writing with the SBTi (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard).
Many companies underestimate this step. You’ll need to coordinate across communications, investor relations, and leadership to craft an announcement that resonates with stakeholders. The validation itself is technical, but communicating it is strategic.
Revalidation Becomes Necessary When Material Changes Occur
After your targets are validated, your work doesn’t stop. If your company experiences significant changes—such as a major acquisition, divestment, or recalculation that shifts your base year emissions by more than 5%—your targets may no longer meet SBTi criteria and will require revalidation (SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard).
This is where having a robust carbon management strategy pays dividends. If you’ve built your strategy with recalculation in mind, major changes won’t derail your validation status (source: Science Based Targets Initiative; https://sciencebasedtargets.org/blog/driving-efficiencies-in-the-sbti-target-validation-process).
Career Implications: The Validation Process Demands Deep Expertise
For sustainability professionals, understanding the SBTi validation process isn’t just academic. It’s increasingly a core competency.
Companies are hiring specialists to manage every phase of this process—from initial submission through post-validation communication. Roles like ESG Reporting Manager and Sustainability Manager now routinely require hands-on experience with SBTi submissions and validation workflows. If you’re building a career in carbon management or ESG reporting, familiarizing yourself with this process makes you significantly more valuable to employers.
If you’re managing this internally, you’re likely juggling multiple responsibilities. But the stakes are high enough that many companies are now creating dedicated positions to oversee SBTi validation alone. Check out specialized ESG reporting roles if you’re interested in deepening your expertise in this space.
Key Preparation Strategies
To increase the likelihood of smooth, timely validation:
- Follow SBTi guidance meticulously. Review the Net-Zero Standard and target validation protocols in detail before submitting.
- Ensure GHG inventory accuracy. This is your foundation. Invest time in verification and validation of your emissions data upfront.
- Understand your sector-specific requirements. If your industry has published SBTi guidance, your targets must align with its methodologies and ambition levels.
- Consider carbon credits strategically. The SBTi has specific rules about which credits count toward neutralization. Understand these limitations before validation.
- Plan your public announcement. Once approved, you have a six-month window to communicate your targets. Begin thinking about messaging early.
The Broader Context: Why Validation Matters for Your Career
The SBTi validation process is becoming a defining credential for corporate sustainability. Companies with validated targets are demonstrating credibility in a way that unvalidated commitments cannot. For professionals working in this space on platforms like CSR Jobs, familiarity with the validation process is increasingly non-negotiable.
If you’re managing a submission right now, take solace in the fact that the SBTi has genuinely invested in making this process clearer and more supportive. The portal improvements, the detailed feedback, and the structured timelines are all designed to help you succeed.
And if you’re looking to build a team to navigate this process, browse available sustainability roles to find specialists who have hands-on validation experience. The right person in this role can mean the difference between a smooth submission and a frustrating back-and-forth.
Your submission is just the beginning. With realistic expectations and thorough preparation, validation can be a straightforward process—and a genuine win for your organization’s climate credibility.