SBS has had its carbon reduction trajectory, both near-term and long-term Net Zero targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the first Australian broadcaster to do so.

The SBTi assesses corporate modelling and targets aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change and are aligned with the latest climate science and the Paris Agreement.

James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS, said:

“We are immensely proud that our near-term and Net Zero target has been validated by the SBTi. As I have said before, this is an area SBS can and should lead in. We are an organisation that sits at the intersection of both public and commercial media and our commitment to more sustainable practices helps pave a way for others in the industry.”

Susan Jenny Ehr Interim Chief Executive Officer of the SBTi added:

“Climate science is clear: rapid and deep emissions cuts are essential if we are to achieve global Net Zero. Today, the Special Broadcasting Service steps up, joining the growing list of companies cutting emissions across their entire value chain in line with science, and actively contributing to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” 

In 2023, SBS took steps to become the first broadcaster to set an ambitious pathway towards Net Zero on all its emissions – both direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and supplier emissions (Scope 3). It also became the first media organisation to begin carbon measurement using Sustainable Screens Australia’s albert Toolkit to measure and reduce emissions for production. Last year the broadcaster also confirmed it had moved to a 10-year renewable energy power purchase agreement, making it Australia’s first 100 per cent renewable media organisation.

SBS Head of Sustainability Abigail Thomas noted SBTi’s Target Validation Team has classified SBS’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 near-term target of a 42 per cent reduction in emissions from the FY22 base year by 2030 as in line with the current science.

SBTi also evaluated SBS’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 long-term target of reaching Net Zero by 2045, and commended SBS for selecting the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process, confirming that this target is aligned to the 1.5 degrees Celsius mitigation pathway.

SBS Media also recently launched a Sustainability Challenge encouraging brands and advertising agencies to do more to normalise sustainable behaviour and better environmental consumer practices. The challenge has offered $500,000 in advertising inventory for the best TV creative idea.