Why Professional Services Firms Are Leading on SBTi (And How to Join Them)

Of the 6,000 companies with certified science-based targets in 2024, Professional Services was the sector with the most targets (681), making it the undisputed leader in corporate climate action. From the Big Four accounting firms to global management consultancies, professional services firms are setting the pace for science-based emissions reduction. But what's driving this leadership, and how can other firms follow their example?

The answer lies in a unique combination of factors: client expectations, talent demands, operational advantages, and the sector's advisory role in helping others achieve sustainability goals. For professional services firms, SBTi adoption isn't just about compliance – it's about credibility, competitiveness, and walking the talk.

The credibility imperative

Professional services firms face a unique challenge: how can they advise clients on sustainability transformation if they haven't transformed themselves? As advisors to clients on sustainability matters, how are these firms addressing environmental responsibility within their own operations? This question drives much of the sector's leadership on SBTi.

The Big Four have been particularly aggressive. "The Big Four accounting firms – Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC – have secured the strongest brand preference in both the sustainability consulting and sustainability assurance markets. Since this is a market which requires deep pockets, the Big Four's dominance already looks ominous for their competitors." Their SBTi commitments reinforce this market position.

Leading by example: McKinsey's ambitious targets

McKinsey & Company exemplifies how top-tier consultancies are approaching SBTi. "Our 2030 emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, the industry's most rigorous scientific standard," notes Alizé Perrot, Environmental Sustainability Specialist at McKinsey.

Their targets are comprehensive:

• By 2025, the firm aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25% and Scope 3 business travel emissions per employee by 35% – from a 2019 baseline
• By 2030, McKinsey has set a target of a 64.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 55% reduction in per-employee travel emissions
• By 2050, the company plans to reach net zero by cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and business travel emissions by 97%

Progress has been remarkable: By the end of 2024 McKinsey had already achieved significant progress: A 62% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, surpassing its 2025 goal. A 50% cut in business travel emissions per employee – exceeding the initial 35% reduction target.

Bain's net-zero leadership

Bain & Company recently announced it has signed the Business Ambition for 1.5⁰C commitment letter as part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) and will achieve 100% Net-Zero Carbon across all of its operations by 2030. This aggressive timeline puts Bain ahead of many peers.

Since 2011, Bain & Company has reduced its Scopes 1 and 2 direct emissions by 68 percent, with a goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction by 2030. The firm's early action demonstrates how professional services firms can achieve substantial reductions through focused effort.

Why professional services firms excel at SBTi

1. Lower operational complexity Unlike manufacturing or logistics companies, professional services firms have relatively simple operations. TheirScope 3 emissions represent 98 percent of our 2019 baseline. They are mostly driven by business travel, primarily air travel, followed by hotel stays and ground transportation. This concentration makes targeting reductions more straightforward.

2. Talent attraction and retention More than half of MBA students plan to put positive impact ahead of financial gain, according to research from Bain & Company. Top talent increasingly demands employers with strong sustainability credentials, making SBTi targets a recruitment advantage.

3. Client expectations The Big 4 offer a range of advisory services related to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues. These services can include sustainability strategy development, risk management, and investment analysis. Clients expect their advisors to model best practices.

4. Market opportunity Nine in 10 companies are engaged in social impact activity, according to a survey of Fortune 500 firms by Deloitte. This creates massive demand for sustainability expertise, which SBTi-committed firms are better positioned to provide.

Key strategies for success

Professional services firms succeeding with SBTi share several approaches:

Travel transformation One primary focus of professional services firms is reducing the environmental impact of business travel. This can be implemented in several ways, including planning via a budget process seeking to reduce travel, setting carbon budgets for flights by each team and organising company off-sites at specific accessible venues to regulate mileage.

McKinsey has implemented a carbon fee on business travel, SAF procurement and staff engagement have already been key levers in reducing aviation-related emissions.

Renewable energy transition The firm has converted 93 percent of its operations to renewable energy sources and will reach 100 percent by the end of the year. Office-based businesses can achieve rapid progress through renewable electricity procurement.

Beyond value chain mitigation Leading firms aren't stopping at their own operations. McKinsey is leveraging its position to accelerate wider change through a number of initiatives and projects including Frontier: an advance market commitment of more than $1bn to support permanent carbon removal technologies.

How to join the leaders

For professional services firms considering SBTi commitments, the pathway is clear:

1. Start with comprehensive measurement Establish baseline emissions across all scopes. For most firms, Scope 3 travel emissions will likely dominate, requiring detailed tracking of flights, hotels, and ground transport.

2. Set ambitious but achievable targets Follow the SBTi's sector-specific guidance. Companies must reduce their value chain emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) over the next five to ten years in line with an SBTi-defined 1.5℃ pathway, and by 2050 reduce those same emissions by at least 90%.

3. Focus on the big wins For most professional services firms, this means transforming travel policies, transitioning to renewable energy, and engaging employees in behaviour change.

4. Leverage your influence The firm's Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Practice has grown significantly over the past five years, working with many of its clients to help them reduce their overall carbon footprint. Use your expertise to help clients while demonstrating your own commitment.

5. Invest in innovation Leading firms are investing in sustainable aviation fuel, carbon removal technologies, and other innovations that will be essential for achieving net zero, but equally be conscious of concerns around offset additionality and offsetting. Offsets should be used for unavoidable emissions only after all possible reduction have been made.

Conclusion

Professional services firms are leading on SBTi not despite their client-facing role, but because of it. Their leadership demonstrates that ambitious climate action enhances rather than constrains business success. With more than 1,000 net-zero targets now validated globally, the momentum is clear.

For firms yet to commit, the question isn't whether to pursue science-based targets, but how quickly you can join the leaders. In a sector where credibility is currency, SBTi validation is becoming table stakes for sustainability advisory work. The firms setting targets today are positioning themselves as the trusted advisors of tomorrow's net-zero economy.

Ready to follow the professional services leaders? Emitrics makes SBTi target-setting achievable by automating emissions calculations and tracking progress against your science-based goals. Our platform helps you establish baselines, model reduction scenarios, and report progress with the rigour SBTi demands. Book a demo to start your science-based journey.