The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has launched the world’s first register of certified science-based target-setting experts, alongside the unveiling of its new e-learning platform, the SBTi Academy. The move is designed to address one of the least-discussed but most pressing challenges in global decarbonization: the shortage of skilled professionals able to translate climate science into measurable, credible corporate action.
The certification marks a significant milestone in the evolution of corporate climate governance. For the first time, sustainability practitioners can gain globally recognized accreditation after completing a rigorous seven-part assessment covering greenhouse gas inventory analysis, target modelling, and the application of SBTi standards. Certified experts will be listed on the SBTi’s public register, providing companies with a trusted pool of professionals to help them navigate the complexities of aligning business operations with climate science.
This announcement lands at a critical time. While the appetite for science-based targets is growing, skills shortages remain a bottleneck. Globally, demand for green talent is outpacing supply twofold, with growth rates of 11.6% in demand compared to 5.6% in supply. A 2024 survey cited by the SBTi found that 76% of businesses identified the “early state of skills” as their biggest challenge when setting climate targets. In many companies, sustainability expertise is “homegrown”, with 68% of leaders promoted internally rather than recruited for specialist knowledge, and more than half admitting they were not originally hired for sustainability roles.
For Africa, the implications are profound. The continent faces the twin pressures of rapid economic growth and rising climate vulnerability. Yet expertise in corporate decarbonization remains thin. A report by LinkedIn in 2023 showed that less than 1% of Africa’s workforce could be classified as “green talent,” far below the global average. This skills gap is felt acutely in industries central to Africa’s growth story: extractives, energy, agriculture, and finance. For example, while over 50 African banks have signed up to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, very few have in-house technical teams capable of modelling portfolio-wide emissions or setting validated net-zero targets. The result is that commitments remain aspirational, and implementation lags.
The SBTi Academy is designed to address precisely this challenge. Its structure reflects the varied levels of capacity across the corporate landscape. The Onboarding Hub provides free entry-level training, introducing newcomers to the basics of greenhouse gas accounting and science-based target-setting. The Practitioners’ Hub offers advanced modules on applying the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, developing near-term corporate targets, and charting pathways to net-zero. Finally, the Certification Hub assesses and accredits professionals who demonstrate mastery of SBTi’s methodologies.
This framework could be transformative in Africa, where many companies and even regulators are only beginning to grapple with the technicalities of decarbonization. Take the power sector: utilities across Southern and East Africa are under growing pressure to transition away from coal, yet many lack staff who can model emissions pathways or design interim targets consistent with a 1.5°C trajectory. Similarly, in agriculture, companies involved in cocoa, coffee, or livestock exports face looming deforestation regulations from the European Union, but few have access to certified experts who can align supply chains with science-based criteria.
By creating a pipeline of certified professionals, the SBTi aims to lower barriers for companies to adopt credible targets and accelerate their implementation. For African firms, the potential benefits are significant. Access to local certified experts could reduce reliance on costly international consultants, while also building long-term domestic capacity. It could also reassure investors, who increasingly view robust climate strategies as a prerequisite for financing. According to the African Development Bank, the continent faces a climate finance gap of $213 billion annually. Having certified professionals on the ground to design and validate science-based targets could unlock greater flows of capital from climate-conscious investors seeking evidence-based transition plans.
Beyond corporate balance sheets, the launch also highlights a broader issue: the global economy cannot decarbonise without a skilled workforce. The transition is not just about wind turbines and solar panels, but also about accountants who can measure emissions accurately, strategists who can model reduction pathways, and managers who can integrate targets into decision-making. In Africa, where over 12 million young people enter the labour market each year, the growth of green skills represents not just a climate imperative but a jobs opportunity. If properly scaled, initiatives like the SBTi Academy could feed into national skills development strategies, linking climate targets with employability.
Tracy Wyman, Chief Impact Officer of the SBTi, put it succinctly: “While the appetite for science-based targets is growing, access to skills is a common barrier. By providing foundational knowledge for those just setting out, and certification for experts already guiding companies, the SBTi Academy aims to bridge the skills gap to set companies up for success.”
For Africa’s corporate sector, that bridge may prove essential. With global trade partners tightening sustainability regulations and climate impacts intensifying, the ability to set and deliver science-based targets could determine which companies thrive in the transition and which are left behind.
