First Japanese Professional Sports Club to Achieve Double Certification: ISO 20121 and SBTi

We are pleased to announce that we have simultaneously obtained certification for "ISO 20121:2024," the international standard for sustainable event management, and "SBT" certification from the "SBTi," an international framework for greenhouse gas reduction targets. This marks a first for a professional sports club in Japan. (Our research).

We will continue to promote sustainable home game operations that meet global standards with environmental considerations.

(Left: Tatsuro Terabe, Chairman and Representative Director of FC Imabari Inc.; Right: Hiroshi Kusumoto, General Manager of Sales & Marketing, BSI Group Japan)

【Overview】

Recognized for our efforts in sustainable event management, we obtained certification for the international standard for sustainable event management systems, "ISO 20121:2024," on June 5, 2026. Furthermore, to strengthen our commitment to climate change issues, which are particularly emphasized in the 2024 revised version of the standard, we obtained certification for Science Based Targets (hereinafter referred to as "SBT") on June 4, 2026.

【Background of This Initiative】

Event hosting has a significant impact on the environment, society, and economy, necessitating sustainable operations that create lasting positive value without burdening society or the planet. Climate change, in particular, poses the greatest threat to all three aspects. Therefore, implementing concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), considered a primary cause of climate change, is a crucial challenge for sustainable event management. Additionally, as events bring together diverse individuals, adequate consideration for human rights is also a vital element. Regular third-party, transparent, and objective evaluations (audits) are necessary to validate the appropriateness of activities and update them in response to internal and external environmental changes.

ISO 20121:2024 is the only globally recognized international standard for event sustainability, first introduced at the London Olympics in 2012. It has since been continuously adopted for major events like all Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Qatar World Cup, and Expo Osaka, establishing it as a globally trusted standard. The standard was revised in 2024 (the 2012 version is abolished), with commitments to "climate change," "human rights," and "legacy" becoming certification requirements. In the football industry, pioneering clubs in sustainability activities such as Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC (England), along with Olympique Marseille (France) and Atlético Madrid (Spain), have received the 2024 version certification, making our club the fifth globally. (Our research). SBT is a science-based GHG reduction target aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal and is the world's largest collaborative framework with approximately 15,000 participating companies globally. By integrating SBT targets with the climate change initiatives required by ISO 20121:2024, their effectiveness is further enhanced.

Furthermore, our club is the first professional sports club in Japan to receive the highest "Gold" rating in the "Pride Index," which evaluates the LGBTQ+ initiatives of companies and organizations (awarded November 2025). This achievement was highly recognized during the ISO 20121:2024 assessment, which places significant emphasis on human rights.

With this double certification, we aim to continuously evolve together with our stakeholders as a regional professional sports club that preserves assets for future generations.

【Details】

◼️ISO 20121:2024

SEMS: Sustainable Event Management System. This international standard systematically manages and improves the environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with event planning and operation, enabling sustainable management as a "system."
The 2024 revision clearly strengthens three themes: "climate change," "human rights," and "legacy," requiring event responses that integrate sustainability across the entire supply chain, greenhouse gas reduction, and human rights considerations.

Professional football clubs certified under the latest version (2024) of ISO 20121 are Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC (England), Olympique Marseille (France), Atlético Madrid (Spain), and FC Imabari FC, making us the fifth club globally. (As of June 5, 2026, our research).

◼️SBT (Science Based Targets)

Science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, based on the latest climate science. Companies set reduction targets combining short-term goals (5-10 years ahead) and long-term goals towards net-zero by 2050. The validity of these targets is verified and certified by the governing body (SBTi: Science Based Targets initiative).

Liverpool FC (England) and Borussia Dortmund (Germany) have obtained the full package version including Scope 3. FC Osaka and FC Imabari FC have obtained the SME version covering Scope 1 and Scope 2. (All based on our research).

As of June 4, 2026, approximately 15,000 companies worldwide and 2,500 companies in Japan, mainly large corporations, participate in SBT, which has become the international standard language for greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.