The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), one of the key organizations focused on aligning corporate environmental sustainability action with the global goals of limiting climate change, announced the resignation of CEO Luiz Amaral, citing personal reasons.

The SBTi was founded in 2015 with the goal to establish science-based environmental target setting as a standard corporate practice. The organizations’ key functions include defining and promoting best practice in emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science, providing technical assistance to companies who set science-based targets, and providing companies with independent assessment and validation of their emissions reduction targets.

Amaral joined the SBTi as its first CEO in early 2022, after serving for six years at World Resources Institute (WRI) – one of the founding organizations behind SBTi – including as Director, Global Solutions for Commodities & Finance.

In his role as CEO, Amaral has overseen a series of substantial changes to the organization, including the separation of its standard-setting and validation activities into distinct entities, as well as a series of governance changes, including the incorporation of the SBTi in the UK and the establishment of the organization as independent from its founding organizations.

The SBTi has also seen significant growth, including recently reporting that the number of companies with validated science-based climate targets more than doubled to 4,204 at the end of 2023, compared to 2,079 in 2022, and the launch of a major scale-up process aimed at meeting surging demand for corporate decarbonization standards and target validation services.

More recently, the organization has been the subject of controversy over its recent announcement that it intends to extend the use of environmental attribute certificates (EACs), such as emissions reduction credits, as part of its planned update of its standard for corporate net zero target setting. Following the announcement, SBTi staff issued a letter indicating that they were “deeply concerned” about the plans, and reportedly called for the resignation of the CEO and board members. The SBTi board subsequently issued a clarification, stating that “any use of EACs for Scope 3 will be informed by evidence,” and that it plans to issue a discussion paper about the potential changes, prior to the drafting phase of the updated standard.

In a speech to SBTi staff announcing his resignation, Amaral said:

“Change is not easy, but it is often necessary. As this cycle is closed and SBTi enters its next phase it will require an immense amount of energy and dedication. It is with this in mind that I made my decision to step down as CEO. The journey has been incredibly rewarding. I have led a phase focused on formalization and global exponential growth, but it is time for new leadership to take the helm and guide this organization and all of you into this next stage.”

Amaral will step down at the end of July, with SBTi Chief Legal Officer Susan Jenny Ehr taking on the role of interim CEO. The organization said that it has started a recruitment process for a permanent CEO.

Francesco Starace, Chair of SBTi, said:

“On behalf of the Board and all the people working in the SBTi, I would like to thank Luiz for his steadfast leadership, and for his dedication and passion in pursuing the aims of SBTi. During Luiz’s tenure the SBTi has achieved incredible growth, structural evolution and driven significant impact in the scale and reach of corporate climate action around the world. The Board welcomes Susan Jenny Ehr as interim CEO and is grateful to Luiz and all the SBTi staff who will ensure a smooth transition.”