Corporate climate action is accelerating globally and Asia is leading the charge, as demonstrated by the fact that, between late 2023 and mid-2025, the region saw a remarkable 134% increase in companies adopting Science-Based Targets initiative ( SBTi )-approved targets, according to a recent report.

Nearly 11,000 companies globally, as of the first half of 2025, have either already set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets aligned with the SBTi – a global body that helps companies align their emissions reduction goals with the latest climate science and the Paris agreement – or have committed to set them, which represents a 57% increase since the end of 2023, finds the August SBTi Trend Tracker report.

Among these companies, the number with validated near-term targets grew by 97%, while those pursuing both near-term and net-zero goals surged by an impressive 227%.

Global SBTi adoption

Region-wise, Asia’s globe-leading 134% surge in companies setting SBTi targets between the end of 2023 and the end of June 2025, was followed by the Latin America and the Caribbean region, which grew by 99%.

Within Asia, China witnessed the strongest increase in the percentage of companies adopting SBTi during the 18-month period with 228%, while Japan continues to lead in terms of the total number, with 1,731 companies having validated SBTi targets.

Asia’s progress in SBTi adoption, according the report, underscores its commitment to decarbonization and sustainable growth.

Regional STBi adoption

Sector-wise, industrials, which includes manufacturers and distributors of capital goods, led all industries in the number of companies setting SBTi targets, the report notes, representing nearly one-third of the global total.

This sector is followed by those of consumer discretionary and materials, which are almost tied in the number of SBTi-aligned companies; and, about half of these targets were set in the past 18 months.

Sectoral STBI adoption

With the fervent pursuit of companies towards decarbonization and sustainability worldwide, the report points out, SBTi-aligned companies account for, as of the end of 2024, US$128 trillion, or 41%, of global market capitalization and US$130 trillion, or 25%, of global revenue.