Corporate Climate Commitments in a Global Economy: Adoption and Abandonment of the Science Based Targets Initiative

This thesis focuses on the Science Based targets initiative (SBTi) and its role in shaping corporate climate strategies. The study examines the growing adoption of SBTi among businesses and the challenges associated with its implementation. Particular attention is given to the factors that influence the companies’ ability to maintain long term commitments, despite the complexity and difficulties encountered during the implementation. To address these issues, qualitative research was conducted through in-depth interviews with representatives of selected companies. Furthermore, the thesis highlights the increasing importance of credible climate action in response to regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectations and global sustainability objectives. The findings demonstrate that while SBTi can serve as an effective framework for aligning corporate climate ambitions with scientific recommendations, its implementation often requires substantial resources, reliable data and long term engagement.