SBTi seeks industry input as it revises FLAG Climate Standard

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is beginning a 12+ month process to revise its Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Standard
• It is seeking evidence and input from companies across agriculture, forestry and land-based supply chains, with particular interest in underrepresented regions including Latin America and Southeast Asia

🔭 The context: The revision follows SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2, published in June 2026, which introduced new target-setting approaches, five-year review cycles and a hierarchy for implementing emissions reductions
• SBTi will assess how these tools apply to companies with significant land-related emissions and seek greater alignment with the GHG Protocol’s Land Sector and Removals Standard
• Companies can continue using the existing FLAG Guidance, Version 1.2, while the revision is underway

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Agriculture, forestry and land use remain a major source of global emissions while also facing growing risks from drought, heat and extreme weather
• A more consistent framework could help companies address both land-sector emissions and the resilience of the supply chains that depend on them

⏭️ What’s next: SBTi will combine stakeholder evidence, public consultation, pilot testing and expert working groups before finalising the revised standard
• The outcome could influence climate-target setting across food, retail, consumer goods and other industries with land-intensive supply chains

💬 One quote: “The FLAG sector has a key role in addressing the climate crisis,” said SBTi CEO David Kennedy. “With this call for evidence, companies can share their experience and shape an updated FLAG approach”

📈 One stat: 400+ companies already have FLAG targets under the existing framework.

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