SBTi And CAFA Partner To Drive Climate Action Globally

As part of an effort to accelerate business climate action, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has partnered with Climate Action for Associations (CAFA) to increase the availability of science-based targets (SBTs) to global trade associations. This partnership is geared toward boosting industry-wide use of ambitious climate targets, which will further boost the shift toward a net-zero economy.

By leveraging SBTi’s expertise in setting science-backed emissions reduction targets and CAFA’s extensive international network, the collaboration seeks to empower trade associations to lead sustainability initiatives within their respective industries. The focus will be on high-impact sectors such as buildings, steel, and concrete, where emissions reductions are critical to achieving global climate targets.

Tracy Wyman, SBTi Chief Impact Officer, pointed to the transformative power of this collaboration, as it emphasized the key role that trade associations will play in influencing climate action at scale. "Industry associations are best placed to drive and make change happen across an entire industry.". Through the SBTi collaboration with CAFA, we are ensuring that they enhance their efforts towards educating associations as well as members on setting science-based targets and making a practical contribution to worldwide climate objectives. This collaboration represents an interesting as well as tremendous milestone in enhancing our vision towards making science-based corporate climate action mainstream," said Wyman.

With industries across the globe coming under growing pressure to meet the Paris Agreement and net-zero pledges, the work of trade associations in driving this change has become more important than ever. Trade associations are critical intermediaries who offer industry-specific advice and build business-to-business collaboration. The collaboration between SBTi and CAFA aims to empower trade associations with the information and resources required to include science-based targets within their sustainability strategies.

CAFA, in its role of mobilizing associations to climate leadership, will integrate science-based targets into outreach programs, workshops, and webinars. This strategy will make it not just so that member organizations learn the necessity of embracing climate targets but also the strategic advantage of embracing them. By integrating these targets into educational efforts, CAFA will promote a culture of sustainability in trade associations and their member firms.

Alison Heppenstall, CAFA's Founder and CEO, was positive about the collaboration, describing its potential to make a real difference in the association sector. "We are excited to join forces with SBTi to take science-based corporate climate action to the center of the association sector and our engagement with membership organisations.". Using the collaboration, we’ll look to scale up our impact, including making sure associations provide their members access to the latest guidance on setting and achieving emissions reduction targets aligned with what the science says is required,” Heppenstall said.

The partnership falls in line with wider international initiatives to make businesses take bold actions to cut emissions in accordance with scientific advice. The SBTi, having played a central role in standardizing and legitimizing corporate climate goals, identifies the value of working with trade associations as a way to move climate action industry-wide. Together, SBTi and CAFA will issue best practice guidelines, share learning, and help associations implement effective emissions-cutting strategies.

As businesses respond to changing regulatory environments and stakeholder demands, science-based targets present a legitimate way for firms to showcase climate leadership. SBTi and CAFA's alliance is a step toward integrating such targets into industry-level sustainability approaches so that firms can stay on track with meeting global climate targets.

Through collaboration, SBTi and CAFA seek to speed up the shift to a net-zero economy by promoting broad industry leadership on climate action. The partnership highlights the increasing acknowledgment that trade associations can be effective drivers of change, leading collective action towards a sustainable future.