More SBTi Finance and Climate Initiative, a brake in Switzerland (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is losing steam in Switzerland. The number of companies joining the project is slowly increasing. At the end of 2025, there were 286 Swiss companies affiliated with the SBTi, while today there are 303.

Key facts

• What: The SBTi is an international initiative that helps companies and financial institutions set emission reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement.
• When: The project is losing momentum in Switzerland.
• Where: Switzerland.
• Who: Swiss companies.
• Amount: The number of companies participating in the project is slowly increasing.

The SBTi is an international initiative that helps companies and financial institutions set emission reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement. The project is losing momentum in Switzerland, where the number of companies joining the project is slowly increasing.

Data analysis

According to official data, at the end of 2025, there were 286 Swiss companies affiliated with the SBTi, while today there are 303. This means that the number of companies joining the project has increased by only 17 units in a year. This increase is considered slow compared to the expectations of the initiative.

In comparison, in the United States, the number of companies affiliated with SBTi increased by 25% in 2022. In Germany, the number of companies affiliated with SBTi increased by 30% in 2022. These data suggest that Switzerland is facing challenges in joining the

Operational details

The SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) has seen a 6% increase in six months, but the number of companies joining the project has increased slowly. 249 companies have already obtained validation for their short-term emission reduction targets and 90 also have a net-zero emissions plan. The remaining 54 are still in the objective presentation phase.

According to official data, 60% of participating companies are small and medium-sized, while 40% are large enterprises. The most represented sector is manufacturing (35%), followed by the trade sector (20%) and the tertiary sector (15%).

The project was launched in 2020 and has seen a significant increase in membership over the past two years. However, the pace of adherence is still slow compared to expectations. “The SBTi initiative is an important step forward for emission reduction and the transition to a low-environmental-impact economy,” says the president of the Swiss Association of Environmental Engineering, “but it is necessary to accelerate the process of companies' membership.”

According to a report by the Federal Office for the Environment, 75% of the member companies are based in the canton of Zurich, followed by the canton of Geneva (10%) and the canton of Bern (5%). The most represented cities are Zurich (40%), Geneva (25%) and Bern (15%).

The project provides for the creation of an emission reduction plan in the near future

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Key points

The slowdown in growth is not only due to the lower enthusiasm of new memberships. 23 companies have turned their backs on the SBTi (Science-Based Targets initiative) or have not met the deadlines for the presentation of objectives. These include two giants of the Swiss Market Index (SMI), the insurance company Zurich and the reinsurer Swiss Re.

According to statistics, in 2022 Switzerland had reached 72% of SBTi adherence, while in 2023 the percentage fell to 53%. This is partly due to the lack of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by 2025, required by SBTi legislation. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45% by 2030 compared to 1990.

Switzerland, famously known for its strong economy, is a leader in the fight against climate change. However, the recent negative trend could have significant consequences for the country's environment and financial stability. According to a report by the Swiss Bank, the energy industry is the main responsible for greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland, followed by the chemical industries and steel production.

Among the 23 companies that did not meet the deadlines for submitting the objectives, there are also other prominent companies such as Nestlé and Novartis. These companies were called upon to comply with the deadlines for the submission of gas emission reduction targets

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Source: swissinfo.ch