About the Course
Organizations pursuing science-based targets and net-zero strategy need more than climate ambition. They must demonstrate a coherent pathway that can stand up to internal assurance, investor review, and SBTi validation, using evidence from the GHG Protocol, the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard, and credible Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 accounting. In practice, you are expected to show carbon accounting discipline, target boundary design, emissions reduction planning, data quality control, and progress reporting that leadership can trust.
This course turns fragmented climate knowledge into a structured operating system for target setting and delivery. You will practice using the GHG Protocol and SBTi target logic to assess baselines, map emissions sources, define near-term and long-term target structures, design decarbonization levers, and prepare implementation artifacts such as a target register, emissions reduction roadmap, and reporting dashboard. You will also be introduced to operational concepts around climate scenario analysis, supplier engagement, and transition planning at a level that supports strategic application rather than technical engineering. This course teaches you how to build a science-based target pathway, align your net-zero strategy with the Corporate Net-Zero Standard, and communicate progress through credible climate reporting so you can move from high-level commitments to measurable delivery.
The course is built for professionals who must deliver under real constraints such as incomplete Scope 3 data, competing capital priorities, legacy operations, and evolving disclosure expectations. It assumes you may be working across finance, procurement, operations, and sustainability functions, where climate decisions must compete with budget cycles, production targets, and audit demands. The training therefore focuses on realistic implementation choices, not theoretical perfection.
Target Audience
This course is designed for professionals who already work with climate data, ESG disclosures, or decarbonization planning and need to shape credible science-based targets and net-zero strategy outputs.
- Sustainability Managers responsible for emissions reduction planning and climate target governance
- ESG Reporting Specialists preparing climate disclosures and target narratives
- Carbon Accountants calculating baselines and Scope 1, 2, and 3 inventories
- Net-Zero Program Leads coordinating cross-functional decarbonization roadmaps
- Climate Strategy Managers aligning business planning with SBTi target pathways
- Corporate Affairs Managers translating climate commitments into board-ready reporting
- Procurement Sustainability Managers addressing supplier emissions and Scope 3 engagement
- Energy Managers identifying operational decarbonization opportunities and tracking reductions
- Finance Business Partners evaluating transition costs, capital allocation, and carbon metrics
- Risk and Compliance Officers monitoring climate-related disclosure and validation requirements
Course Objectives
This course equips you to plan, execute, and measure science-based targets and net-zero strategy initiatives that strengthen climate credibility, support validation readiness, and improve enterprise decarbonization decision-making.
- Assess your current emissions baseline using the GHG Protocol and a Scope 1-3 boundary map.
- Apply the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard to structure near-term and long-term target pathways.
- Design a science-based target submission pack with baseline data, target coverage, and exclusions.
- Build a decarbonization roadmap linking abatement levers to operational owners and timelines.
- Evaluate target logic, sector guidance, and documentation against SBTi validation expectations.
- Navigate stakeholder and supplier requirements using climate governance and Scope 3 engagement plans.
- Implement digital emissions tracking with spreadsheet dashboards and carbon data quality controls.
- Synthesize findings into board-ready climate reporting, target registers, and net-zero progress updates.
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have a working understanding of greenhouse gas emissions concepts, corporate sustainability reporting, and basic Excel-based data handling. Familiarity with the GHG Protocol, Scope 1-2-3 accounting, and SBTi terminology will help you move faster, although the course will revisit the essentials before advancing into target design and validation logic. No coding is required, but you should be comfortable reviewing emissions datasets, target tables, and management reporting packs.
Local Application and Business Return in New Zealand
How participants can apply the training in local operating conditions, and the return their organisation can plan for.
How participants apply this
Expected ROI
Training Methodology
This is a practical, outcome-driven course designed to turn science-based targets and net-zero strategy aspiration into measurable action and credible reporting.
Methodology includes:
- Hands-on calculation using a GHG Protocol emissions dataset and baseline worksheet.
- Scenario simulation on a Scope 3 data gap and target submission constraint.
- Diagnostic review of a target package against the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard.
- Stakeholder mapping for sustainability, finance, procurement, and executive reporting lines.
- Case study analysis from manufacturing, financial services, retail, and energy sectors.
- Group workshop to create a net-zero roadmap under time and budget limits.
- Reflection exercise comparing current targets against SBTi validation expectations and disclosure benchmarks.
Upcoming Sessions
Next available dates worldwide
Certification
Recognized credentials that advance your career
Participants who complete the Science-Based Targets and Net-Zero Strategy Training Program earn a Trainingcred Certificate of Achievement, demonstrating professional competence and alignment with global standards in learning and development.
NITA Accredited
Accredited by the National Industrial Training Authority, ensuring programs meet nationally recognized standards of quality and relevance.
CPD Certified
Recognized by the CPD Certification Service, ensuring every program meets internationally benchmarked standards of professional excellence.
Why this course earns its place on your CV
Accredited training, practitioner trainers, and peers on the same career track — the three things real expertise is built on.
Effective Learning & Skill Development
- Build expertise with structured, outcome-driven learning.
- Equip individuals and teams with skills that grow with industry needs.
- Reinforce learning through real-world scenarios, case studies and practical exercises.
Career Growth & Professional Advancement
- Apply what you learn with a proven methodology that ensures lasting impact.
- Develop immediately usable skills that translate directly into workplace success.
- Gain the expertise needed for career advancement and leadership roles.
Training Optimization & Learning Excellence
- Tailor training to industry-specific challenges and organizational goals.
- Use data-driven insights and automation to enhance training effectiveness.
- Evaluate progress and ensure long-term learning success.
Tools and platforms relevant to this field
Examples New Zealand teams may encounter, and that may be featured in training where they support the confirmed course scope.
These are field-relevant examples, not a promise that every tool will be covered. Exact coverage depends on the confirmed course scope, participant needs, and delivery format.
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Microsoft Sustainability Manager MicrosoftUsed to collect, calculate, and report emissions data across operations and supply chains when organisations need a structured carbon-accounting workflow.
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SAP Sustainability Control Tower SAPUsed to track ESG and emissions performance alongside business metrics, supporting target monitoring and board reporting.
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IBM Envizi ESG Suite IBMUsed for emissions data management, Scope 1-3 accounting, and progress tracking against decarbonization targets.
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Sphera Carbon Accounting and Management SpheraUsed to organise emissions inventories, manage activity data, and support reporting aligned to climate-target frameworks.
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Persefoni Carbon Accounting Platform PersefoniUsed to structure carbon accounting and reporting for organisations that need auditable emissions data and target tracking.
