The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is the global standard-setter for science-based climate targets at corporate level — founded 2015 as a joint initiative of CDP, the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). SBTi sits underneath the disclosure regimes, not alongside them: CSRD/ESRS, IFRS S2, FTSE Russell, and the SEC climate rule require companies to disclose targets; SBTi defines what makes a target credible. The Corporate Net-Zero Standard translates the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C global temperature goal into corporate-level decarbonisation pathways, grounded in the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard methodology, IPCC AR6 climate science, and IEA Net Zero scenarios. As of January 2026, more than 10,000 companies hold SBTi-validated targets globally, with ~13,000 including commitments — representing over 40% of global market capitalisation.

Honest scoping: Nataree Aussapim anchors Othello’s consultative SBTi readiness preparation work — it is not an SBTi-conferred practitioner credential. SBTi validates corporate targets, not individuals — the framework does not operate through individual practitioner certifications. สิ่งที่โอเทลโล่ดำเนินการ: helps Thai SET-listed corporates, Thai-owned EU subsidiaries, and Thai-listed groups prepare submission-ready target packages, supports the validation iteration with SBTi, and develops the Climate Transition Plan that integrates with IFRS S2, CSRD/ESRS E1, and EU Taxonomy CapEx-Plan disclosure. What Othello does not do: claim SBTi-conferred certification; provide the SBTi validation itself (conducted by SBTi’s internal Target Validation Team); provide third-party assurance on the underlying GHG inventory (separately scoped). The credential category is “applied competence in SBTi target-setting readiness, anchored by Nataree Aussapim” — with substantive cross-Domain integration through Panit’s ISO 14064, TGO, and ICVCM credentials.

For most companies setting their first SBTi target in 2026-2027, V1.3 is the pragmatic choice. V1.3 (with Near-Term Criteria V5.3) remains valid for new target submissions through 31 December 2027; the validation pathway is well-established; the documentation requirements are clear; ~10,000 companies have validated under V1.3 so the methodology is field-tested. V2.0 introduces substantive new requirements: scope-specific target setting (Scope 1 individual target, stricter Scope 2 EAC criteria), mandatory Climate Transition Plans, third-party assurance on the inventory, cyclical validation. V2.0 publication is expected during 2026, becomes mandatory for new targets from 1 January 2028. Companies validated under V1.3 will receive a transition pathway. The substantive question is not “V1.3 or V2.0” but “validated target by 2027 or 2028+ under stricter rules” — with delayed validation meaning delayed credibility signal to customers, investors, and regulators.

Under V1.3, validation typically takes 6-12 months from submission, depending on submission completeness, queue depth at the SBTi Target Validation Team, and the number of iteration rounds (typically 1-3) required to address SBTi’s review comments. For Thai-listed groups with mature GHG inventory infrastructure and clear methodology choices, validation tends to complete in the 6-8 month range; for groups with substantive Scope 3 complexity or first-time inventory work, 9-12 months is more typical. Under V2.0’s cyclical validation model, the initial validation timeline is expected to compress somewhat (more structured submission template), but renewal-validation checkpoints add ongoing engagement throughout the target timeframe. Othello’s readiness work substantially compresses pre-submission preparation time; the validation timeline itself remains under SBTi’s institutional control.

Under V1.3, where Scope 3 emissions account for more than 40% of total GHG emissions (Scope 1+2+3 combined), a Scope 3 near-term target is required. For most companies, Scope 3 is the majority of total emissions — making the rule essentially universal in practice. The Scope 3 categories required typically include the top 5-7 material categories from the 15 GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories (Purchased Goods & Services, Capital Goods, Fuel-and-Energy-Related, Upstream Transportation, Waste, Business Travel, Employee Commuting, Upstream Leased Assets, Downstream Transportation, Processing of Sold Products, Use of Sold Products, End-of-Life Treatment, Downstream Leased Assets, Franchises, Investments). Under V2.0, the “focused and flexible” Scope 3 framework allows principled exclusions while maintaining science-aligned coverage — addressing the criticism that V1.3 Scope 3 requirements were impractical for some sectors. For Thai-listed groups with complex value chains, Scope 3 methodology is typically where the substantive engineering work concentrates.

The OER Framework is a V2.0 introduction that replaces the previous “Beyond Value Chain Mitigation” concept. Companies take responsibility for an increasing share of their ongoing emissions starting from 2035, reaching 100% responsibility by 2050. The framework formally permits the use of high-quality carbon credits to discharge this responsibility — making OER one of the few formal recognition mechanisms for carbon credits in the corporate net-zero space. Credits recognised under OER must meet quality criteria substantively aligned with ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCP) — the global threshold standard for credit quality. Panit’s ICVCM CCP applied-competence credential is the cross-Domain integration point — bridging SBTi V2.0 OER work with carbon-credit quality assessment. The substantive shift from V1.3 to V2.0 OER is from “credits are optional supplementary action” to “credits have a defined role with quality requirements”; the residual emissions still require permanent removal.

SBTi sits underneath the disclosure regimes; an SBTi-validated target substantively feeds multiple disclosure obligations simultaneously. IFRS S2 (Climate-related Disclosures): requires disclosure of climate targets, transition plan, Scope 1+2+3 GHG, and progress — all of which are populated by the SBTi target package. For Thai SET50 corporates entering mandatory IFRS S2 from fiscal 2026, the SBTi-validated target is a substantive defensible answer to multiple S2 disclosure questions. CSRD/ESRS E1 (Climate Change): requires science-based targets and a transition plan; ESRS does not mandate SBTi specifically, but a validated SBTi target practically fulfils the key E1 disclosure requirements post-Omnibus. EU Taxonomy CapEx-Plan: transitional activities can include the CapEx commitment documented in the SBTi transition plan, supporting the Taxonomy CapEx KPI. One transition plan built to SBTi V2.0 standards meets the disclosure obligations of three regulatory regimes.

Under V1.3, no — SBTi targets require absolute or intensity-based emissions reductions, not offsets. “Beyond Value Chain Mitigation” was the V1.3 concept for credits used in addition to (not instead of) target reductions, but did not count toward target achievement. Under V2.0, the Ongoing Emissions Responsibility (OER) Framework formalises a defined role for high-quality carbon credits — companies take responsibility for an increasing share of ongoing emissions starting from 2035, and credits aligned with ICVCM CCP quality standards can be used to discharge this responsibility. Residual emissions (the ~10% of base year emissions remaining after the 90%+ absolute reduction) still require permanent removal — not avoided-emissions credits. The bright line: credits cannot substitute for target reductions, but can play a recognised role for ongoing emissions and residual neutralisation under V2.0.

Under V2.0, third-party assurance on the underlying GHG inventory becomes a validation requirement — addressing a long-standing critique that V1.3 validations relied on company-self-attested inventory data. Assurance must be conducted by an accredited assurance provider under ISAE 3000 (Revised), ISAE 3410 (GHG-specific), or equivalent national standards. For Thai-listed groups, the assurance work is typically engaged separately from the SBTi readiness work, either with the entity’s existing financial-statements auditor with sustainability-assurance capability or with a specialist sustainability-assurance provider. Panit Chancharoonpong’s AA1000AS ACSAP credential and CQI/IRCA ISO 14064 Lead Auditor credential are available for separately-scoped parallel-track assurance — never on the same SBTi engagement as the consultative readiness work, to preserve independence under the underlying assurance standards. The V2.0 assurance requirement aligns SBTi with the CSRD limited-assurance regime: building the inventory to assurance-ready standard once feeds both regimes.

SBTi is the fifth and final of Nataree Aussapim’s five EU & Cross-Border Disclosure anchors, alongside CSRD/ESRS, CBAM, EU Taxonomy, and TCFD — completing Domain C and the firm’s 20-credential register. Cross-Domain integration with Panit Chancharoonpong’s seven-credential ESG-assurance cluster is structural: ISO 14064 Lead Auditor (inventory substrate), TGO CFO + CFP Auditor (Thai-verified base year data), AA1000AS ACSAP (separately-scoped assurance overlay), ICVCM CCP (V2.0 OER credit recognition). Together with the firm’s three reporting-framework anchors (GRI 2021, IFRS S1/S2, FTSE Russell), the configuration delivers the full sustainability-disclosure stack a Thai SET-listed corporate or Thai-owned EU subsidiary needs: SBTi-validated target (Nataree readiness + Panit inventory), IFRS S2 climate disclosure with SBTi-aligned transition plan (Kittichai + Nataree), CSRD/ESRS E1 transition plan disclosure (Nataree + GRI substrate), EU Taxonomy CCM substantial-contribution (Nataree + Panit ISO 14064). Founded 2020 on US Government bilingual contracts under FAR-grade contractor verification, the firm’s procurement-grade audit-trail standard applies to SBTi engagements the same way. One engagement letter, one NDA from first email, one audit-trail Bangkok-side, twenty credentials behind it. อีเมล [email protected] or call +66 02-859-2145.