SBTi changed its data model today. Here's what moved, and what we changed

If you pull SBTi data into a model, a dashboard or a supplier scorecard, some of the values you filter on changed today. The Science Based Targets initiative has updated how it labels companies and targets, and we updated our mapping the same day. Here's what changed and what it means for you.

What did SBTi change?

Four things, all set out in SBTi's Commitment and Target Statuses, version 2.0.

1. Company statuses have new names.

The meaning is the same. The labels are just more explicit about what each one is.

2. Targets now carry their own status. This is the big one, because it didn't exist before. Each target can now be:

• Inactive: the company asked SBTi to withdraw its published targets from the dashboard.
• Legacy: the company no longer operates, has been merged or acquired, or its parent has set consolidated targets.
• Expired: a year passed without a new target submission, or the company missed its mandatory five-year review deadline.
• Other: usually an approved target still within its timeframe, or a case that doesn't fit the categories above.

The first three mean SBTi no longer stands behind that target.

3. A column was renamed. "Reason for extension or removal" is now "Status reason".

4. Regions and territories now follow the UN M49 standard. That's the UN's standard country and area classification, so SBTi's regions should now line up with other datasets that use it.

Why does the new target status matter?

Until now, a target that had lapsed looked much the same as one that was current. You could see a company had set targets, but not whether SBTi still stood behind them. The company status tells you where an organisation sits in the target cycle. The target status tells you whether a specific target still counts.

That matters most if you count things. If you're tracking how many of your suppliers or portfolio companies have validated targets, for a supplier engagement target or a portfolio progress report, an expired or inactive target shouldn't be in that number. With SBTi's mandatory five-year reviews now kicking in, expect to see more targets move to Expired over time.

What did we change?

We updated our mapping on the day SBTi's changes took effect, so the data you get from us already reflects them. In the API:

• Status values now use SBTi's new names: "Validated Targets" and "Commitment to Set Targets".
• The reason field now follows SBTi's "Status reason".
• Regions use the UN M49 classification.

One thing to check in your own code. Filters on "Targets Set" or "Committed" won't match anything any more, so switch them to "Validated Targets" and "Commitment to Set Targets".

If you use the /sbti_companies/changes endpoint, this week's diff will show a lot of rows changing. Most of that is the renaming, not companies actually moving status.

The full field list is in our API documentation.

I'm a DitchCarbon customer. Do I need to do anything?

No. The SBTi status on every supplier and portfolio company in the platform has already moved to the new labels, and target tracking now picks up the target status, so a lapsed target no longer counts as validated.

I use the free SBTi API. What do I need to know?

The free SBTi API gets the same update as the platform. It's still free, with no contract: request a key and you're in. The dataset is snapshotted weekly, and the changes endpoint shows you what moved between snapshots so you don't have to re-pull everything. Update any filters on the old status names and you're good to go.

SBTi status is only useful if it's current and it means what you think it means. From today, ours reflects SBTi's new model, target by target.