SBTi CEO Luiz Amaral Resigns, Leaving a Legacy in Corporate Sustainability Efforts

In a surprising turn of events, Luiz Amaral, CEO of Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), has announced his resignation after more than two years in the role. This marks the end of an era at the organization, which is renowned for validating corporate greenhouse gas emissions goals.

In a press release issued on July 2, Amaral stated that personal reasons prompted his decision to step down. His departure will take effect on July 31, and Jenny Ehr, the chief legal officer of SBTi, will serve as the interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement.

SBTi was established in 2014 to assist companies in setting voluntary targets that align their greenhouse gas emissions reductions with the Paris Agreement. Currently, 4,205 companies have SBTI-validated targets, with 449 working towards meeting its corporate net-zero standard. Some companies have faced challenges in having their targets validated or have chosen not to adhere to SBTI’s framework like Microsoft and Walmart.

Controversy surrounding the organization’s future arose on April 10 when an unexpected announcement that SBTi would consider allowing companies to use carbon credits to offset emissions led to calls for Amaral’s resignation from some SBTI staff and advisors. However, it remains unclear whether this move was a significant factor in Amaral’s decision to leave.

Amaral was appointed as SBTi’s first CEO in February 2022, coming from founding partner World Resources Institute. Prior to this role, he served as the head of sustainability for South America with Rabobank. Under his leadership, SBTi transitioned to a standalone organization after initially being managed by a group of founding NGOs. SBTi now operates as a charity