Testing, testing

One of my favourite amusements when attending new car launches at the moment is to mention something called the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), just to see what kind of facial expression is pulled by the particular industry executive to whom I happen to be talking.

- MATT SAUNDERS

I get the whole smorgasbord: from smug and superior right the way through to aggrieved and indignant, via a wonderfully varied mix of bemused, resigned and dismissive gurning.

The SBTi is the body that guards the gateway through which manufacturers must pass in order to qualify for the UK government's Electric Car Grant. It's an initialism that I've read often on manufacturer communications without having a clear idea myself of what it is, where it's based or who's behind it. It seems, in short, to have sprung to prominence almost from nowhere and suddenly be wielding rather a lot of power.

In actuality, the SBTi was set up back in 2015, in a collaboration between the United Nations, the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Carbon Disclosure Project and a couple of other 'global non-profit' organisations. Its brief remains to engage global big businesses to set and then commit to hitting targets for the near- and longer-term cutting of carbon emissions. It has an associated 'services' arm, which would seem to take a more hands-on role in guiding businesses through the process - for a fee, I would bet. But the organisation's main bit certainly seems to be run on a charitable basis.