Eligible SMEs
Confirm eligibility against current criteria before using the SME route. It has its own options and requirements, not simply a smaller corporate application.
SBTi validation consulting for Australian businesses
SBTi Target Setting and Validation Support
A customer, investor or board has asked for science-based targets. Aethiro helps assess the applicable route, prepare the targets and organise the evidence for submission.
Aethiro provides preparation and consulting support. Independent target validation is performed by SBTi Services, not Aethiro. Approval and validation timing are not guaranteed.
Know the route before making a commitment
We start with the business structure, sector, inventory and purpose of the target. This service is intended for Australian non-financial businesses, including regional Queensland organisations. Eligibility, specialist needs and the scope we can support are assessed before accepting work.
The engagement is built around existing records, documented decisions and clear responsibilities. It does not assume every company uses the same target-setting or submission process.
Preparation from eligibility to handover
Eligibility and applicable-route assessment
Assess the company, sector and relevant criteria, including whether an SME, corporate or specialist route applies.
Inventory, boundary and base-year review
Check the emissions inventory, organisational boundary, Scope 3 coverage and base-year readiness. Record gaps that must be resolved before target development.
Target development
Prepare the applicable targets, calculations and supporting rationale, with assumptions and client decisions recorded.
Submission preparation and reviewer support
Organise the application evidence and support responses to reviewer questions within the agreed scope. Obtain client approval before any commitment or submission.
Documentation and responsibilities
Hand over target records, supporting files and the ongoing reporting, review and recalculation responsibilities relevant to the selected route.
Different businesses need different preparation
Corporate submissions
Assess the applicable corporate and sector criteria, inventory coverage and target requirements. The evidence and calculations follow that route.
FLAG-related requirements
Assess whether separate forest, land and agriculture targets are required alongside energy/industry targets. Farm and FLAG Accounting supports the specialist inventory work.
Agree the preparation scope first
Assess readiness
Review the business profile and existing inventory. Identify the route, gaps and any specialist support required.
Prepare the evidence
Develop the agreed target calculations and application materials, with review points for your team.
Approve and hand over
You authorise commitments, submissions and public claims. Reviewer responses and ongoing responsibilities are documented, with additional work separately agreed.
What to bring to the first discussion
Useful inputs include the company structure, sector and activities, emissions inventory, base year, existing targets and any customer or board request. Include previous SBTi correspondence where relevant.
If the inventory needs building, use Carbon Footprint Analysis. ISO 14064 review support can assess inventory evidence. Reduction Planning determines practical actions to deliver reductions; it is distinct from preparing targets for validation.
Current submissions and the next standard
Transition note, 28 August 2026: the Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 was published in June 2026. Validation against it opens on 1 February 2027. Current submissions under Version 1.3.1 and future Version 2.0 transition planning are scoped separately, with applicable route and sector requirements checked at engagement. See the SBTi implementation timetable.
Does Aethiro validate science-based targets?
No. Aethiro prepares targets, calculations and submission evidence, while independent validation is performed by SBTi Services. Aethiro’s consulting fee is separate from SBTi Services’ charges. We do not claim SBTi accreditation, guarantee approval or control the validation timetable.
Who makes the submission and public claims?
The client retains approval of commitments, submissions and public statements. Preparation support does not itself confer validated status. Claims must reflect the actual validation outcome and applicable SBTi requirements.
Clarify the route and the work required
Tell us who is asking for targets, what inventory you already hold and any relevant deadline. We will assess fit and define the preparation scope before work starts.
Email fallback: solutions@aethiro.com. Keep confidential and personal information out of an initial enquiry.