Net zero, net skills: target-setting skills gap addressed by SBTi

The Science Based Targets initiative, or SBTi, has launched a new training and certification platform to upskill sustainability professionals in setting science-based targets. The academy offers courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, while the registry lists experts who have passed a rigorous seven-part assessment covering greenhouse gas inventories, target modelling and more.

The move comes as demand for green skills continues to outpace supply, with global green talent expected to double by 2050. SBTi says the initiative will bridge the skills gap, helping businesses implement effective decarbonisation strategies and ensure their sustainability commitments are credible.

A new report from the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies highlights the mounting toll of climate change on the country’s garment industry, which supplies many of the world’s leading fashion brands. The study finds that 36% of garment workers have already been displaced due to rising sea levels, river erosion, and climate-related disasters. Women, who make up the majority of the workforce, are especially vulnerable, facing heat stress, declining productivity, and growing threats to their livelihoods.

The report warns that while workers bear the brunt of environmental and economic pressures, global fashion brands are avoiding the costs of climate resilience, refusing to pay a green premium that could fund adaptation in factories. Climate experts such as NGO Change Initiative argue that even a small levy, for example, an extra $1 per shirt, could help protect workers and support more sustainable production.

With two-thirds of workers excluded from climate policy decisions, the study calls for urgent action from both government and buyers to share responsibility. Without it, the backbone of Bangladesh’s garment sector and the communities that depend on it could face escalating risks in the years ahead.

Nespresso is set to become the first brand to offer Rainforest Alliance certified regenerative coffee, starting in 2026. The coffees will be sourced from farmers in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. 

This initiative builds on more than two decades of partnership between Nespresso and the Rainforest Alliance, including the AAA Sustainable Quality Program and the Regenerative Coffee Scorecard, which have guided farmers toward sustainable and regenerative practices. The new Regenerative Agriculture Standard focuses on soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, aiming to repair and restore farmland while supporting rural communities.

In a press release, Nespresso and the Rainforest Alliance state that quality coffee isn’t just about flavour, it’s about positive impacts for both people and nature. Farmers are already seeing the benefits, transforming their farms into hubs for biodiversity while maintaining high-quality coffee production.

This launch signals a shift in the coffee industry, demonstrating how major brands can invest in regenerative practices to secure the future of both the crop and the communities that depend on it.

Ten years after the Paris agreement was signed, global climate ambition is falling short. Nearly 200 countries agreed to limit warming to below 2C, but most are missing deadlines for updated climate pledges, known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, according to analysis by the World Resources Institute. Only about half of countries have submitted their 3rd round of pledges, and initial analysis suggests these commitments will reduce emissions by just 10% of what’s needed to stay on track.

Among major emitters, China announced a 7-10% emissions reduction by 2035 and plans to massively expand renewable energy, while the US’s recent policy reversals have cast doubt on its climate commitments. The European Union continues to struggle with internal disagreements over 2035 targets and carbon offsets. These delays are already influencing other nations’ ambitions, highlighting a ripple effect of political indecision.

The WRI warns that without stronger action, the Paris agreement’s goals are increasingly out of reach. However, vulnerable nations are stepping up with bold climate leadership, raising the question of whether major emitters will follow suit. The institute calls for clear, concrete commitments and immediate steps ahead of the upcoming UN COP30 climate conference in Brazil.