Update: SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 Is Now Final

Back in November 2025, we wrote about the second consultation draft of the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard and why it signaled a turning point for the role of carbon credits in corporate climate strategy. Today, that standard is final.

On June 11, 2026, the SBTi released Version 2.0 of the Corporate Net-Zero Standard — the first full revision since the original launch in 2021. It becomes effective on February 1, 2027. Here is what has changed from the draft we covered, and what it means for you.

From Draft to Final: What Stayed, What Shifted

The core architecture we described in our November article has held. The concept of Ongoing Emissions Responsibility (OER) is the centerpiece of the new standard, replacing the old Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM) framing. Companies are now formally asked to take responsibility for their ongoing emissions — not just to reduce them.

But several details have been sharpened in the transition from draft to final standard.

The OER Recognition Program: Three Tiers, Not Two

The final standard formalizes three recognition levels under the optional OER program — Engaged, Advanced, and Leadership — assessed at the end of each target cycle:

• Engaged: Cover at least 1% of total ongoing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by either supporting verified mitigation outcomes (ton-for-ton) or establishing a contribution budget. The standard recommends a minimum of USD 20/tCO₂e for the budget approach.
• Advanced: Cover 100% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions, plus enough Scope 3 to reach at least 10% of total emissions. Companies use verified mitigation outcomes or a contribution budget of at least USD 20/tCO₂e.
• Leadership: Cover 100% of all ongoing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions with a contribution budget of at least USD 80/tCO₂e, using a substantial portion to support verified mitigation outcomes ton-for-ton, with any remaining funds directed to other eligible climate actions.

The USD 80/tCO₂e benchmark for Leadership is described by the SBTi as the lower end of science-based carbon price estimates — and it will be kept under periodic review.

One important clarification from the final text: emissions coverage is calculated using each company's five most recent consecutive years of ongoing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions — so the window is tied to a company's own target cycle, not a fixed universal date. All committed funds must be disbursed within that same period. The standard recommends spreading disbursements progressively throughout the cycle rather than deferring everything to the final year.

Disclosure Is Now Mandatory at Validation

Even for companies that choose not to participate in the OER program, the final standard makes one thing obligatory: you must declare your intent. During Target Validation, every company must indicate whether it plans to take part in the OER recognition program. Those that do not must submit an explanation to the SBTi — and their decision will be publicly displayed on the SBTi Dashboard within six months of validation.

This is accountability by transparency. The market will be able to see who is stepping up and who is opting out.

Post-2035: The Clock Is Ticking

The final standard confirms the trajectory we outlined in November. From 2035, Category A companies (the larger category) will face a mandatory requirement — not just a voluntary recognition program — to support eligible carbon removals:

• Starting at 1% of ongoing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in 2035
• Rising linearly to 100% by the company's net-zero target year, and no later than 2050

Critically, the requirement includes a phased-in durability requirement for long-lived removals: starting at 10% of covered long-lived GHG emissions in 2035, increasing to 100% by the net-zero year. The rest of the portfolio can be short-lived removals, long-lived removals, or a mix.

Neutralization at Net-Zero: The Final Bar

The standard also sets out what achieving net-zero actually requires. At a company's net-zero target year:

• All emissions must be reduced to zero or residual levels
• 100% of residual emissions must be neutralized with eligible carbon removals
• Residual long-lived GHG emissions must be covered by long-lived removals; remaining residuals may use short-lived, long-lived, or a combination

Scope 3 residuals can be shared with value chain partners — but only with a written agreement and at least one party clearly assuming responsibility.

Our Read at goodcarbon

The final standard does what we hoped the draft would do: it turns climate contributions from an optional signal of ambition into a structured, verifiable part of corporate climate strategy.

A few things stand out to us:

The three-tier structure is practical. The Engaged level — just 1% of total emissions — is a low barrier to entry. That is by design. The SBTi wants companies to start, even modestly, rather than hold off until they can commit to the full Leadership level. We see this as an on-ramp, not a ceiling.

Carbon removal become mandatory for large companies. From 2035, scaling up lienearly from a minimum of 1% to eventually cover 100% of residual emissions by their net-zero year.

Shared Scope 3 responsibility is a real opportunity. For companies embedded in complex supply chains, the ability to co-finance and co-claim the same project with value chain partners is a meaningful tool. It allows the cost and the credit to be distributed fairly — and it creates new incentives for supplier engagement.

What You Should Do Now

If you are a company with an SBTi target — or planning to set one — here is what we recommend:

1. Decide on your OER level now, before validation. You will need to declare your intent publicly. Going in without a position is not really an option anymore.
   
   
2. Start building your removals portfolio before 2035. The best projects — with genuine additionality, co-benefits for biodiversity and communities, and credible permanence — are already in demand. Waiting means paying more for less.
   
   
3. Map your long-lived GHG emissions. The new durability requirements make this a baseline piece of information every company needs. The split between long-lived and short-lived GHGs determines what your removal portfolio must look like.
   
   
4. Explore shared Scope 3 responsibility with suppliers. If you have key suppliers who are also setting SBTi targets, co-financing the same high-quality project can be efficient, transparent, and credible.

The SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 effective date is February 1, 2027. That is less than eight months away.

If you want to understand what this means for your climate strategy — from target setting to securing the right carbon removals — reach out to the goodcarbon team. We are here to help you navigate it.

Until next time,
Your goodcarbon team 🌱