GETTING STARTED
GUIDE FOR THE SBTi
FOREST, LAND AND
AGRICULTURE (FLAG)
GUIDANCE
Version 1.3
June 2024
ABOUT SBTi
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organization that
enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the
climate crisis.
We develop standards, tools and guidance which allow companies to set greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below
catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050 at latest.
The SBTi is incorporated as a charity, with a subsidiary which will host our target validation
services. Our partners are CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the We Mean Business
Coalition, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Science Based Targets Initiative is a registered charity in England and Wales (1205768) and a limited company registered in England and Wales (14960097). Registered
address: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London, England, EC4R 1BE. SBTI Services Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales (15181058).
Registered address: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London, England,
EC4R 1BE. SBTI Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Based Targets Initiative. © SBTi 2024
VERSION HISTORY
Version Change/update description Release date
Version 1.0 ● First version of the document. March 2023
Version 1.1 ● FLAG implementation timelines updated. June 2023
● Alignment with the updated submission
Version 1.2 February 2024
forms.
● Table on submission information
Version 1.3 June 2024
updated.
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GETTING STARTED GUIDE FOR THE SBTi FLAG
GUIDANCE
Use this diagram to determine the submission type your company needs to send to the
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to comply with the SBTi FLAG Guidance
requirements.
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TARGET VALIDATION DOCUMENTS AND TOOLS TO
SUBMIT
WHICH TARGETS ARE
DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT TOOLS TO SUBMIT
YOU SETTING?
● Corporate Target ● SBTi Target-Setting
Near-term target update + Submission Form Tool
FLAG target ● FLAG Annex ● SBTi FLAG Target-
Setting Tool
● SBTi Target-Setting
Near-term target update + ● Corporate Target Tool
Net-zero target + FLAG Submission Form ● SBTi FLAG Target-
target ● FLAG Annex Setting Tool
● SBTi Net-Zero Tool
● Corporate Target ● SBTi Target-Setting
Near-term target + FLAG Submission Form Tool
target ● FLAG Annex ● SBTi FLAG Target-
Setting Tool
● SBTi Target-Setting
● Corporate Target Tool
Near-term target + Net-
zero target + FLAG target Submission Form ● SBTi FLAG Target-
● FLAG Annex Setting Tool
● SBTi Net-Zero Tool
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RESOURCES
To support companies in their FLAG target-setting process, the SBTi has developed a series
of resources that companies should carefully consult to ensure they have the latest
information on recommendations and requirements.
● Overview of the SBTi FLAG Guidance.
● Forest, Land and Agriculture Science-Based Target-Setting Guidance.
● SBTi FLAG Target-Setting Tool.
● SBTi Criteria Assessment Indicators: Table 7. FLAG Sector Criteria Assessment
Table.
● SBTi FLAG Project FAQs.
● SBTi FLAG Methods Addendum.
● SBTi FLAG Public Consultation Summary and Q&A.
● SBTi FLAG Guidance launch webinar recording.
● SBTi FLAG target-setting process webinar recording.
● For GHG accounting questions applied to the land sector, please refer to the
Greenhouse Gas Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance (draft version),
which the SBTi follows for all accounting practices.
● For resources on net-zero, please visit the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard page.
● For more information on the SME target validation route and its eligibility, please visit
the SME target-setting process page.
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