MSCI in Practice: Setting Science-Based Net-Zero Targets for Financial Institutions Using MSCI Climate Metrics

From Standard to Implementation: Applying MSCI Data to the SBTi FINZ Framework 

The SBTi's Financial Institutions Net-Zero (FINZ) Standard, published in July 2025, provides a comprehensive target-setting framework for financial institutions - spanning lending, investing, insurance underwriting, and capital markets activities - to support alignment  with a net-zero pathway by 2050. But translating its requirements into practice demands reliable, granular climate data and eligible metrics. 

In this joint webinar, SBTi and MSCI will walk through the key elements of the FINZ Standard and showcase how MSCI's eligible climate metrics may be applied in practice, with a focus on requirements relevant to asset managers and asset owners. The session will introduce the core building blocks of the standard - including portfolio segmentation and climate-alignment assessment - before diving deeper into the target-setting requirements, with a hands-on example of how MSCI data can be used to set near-term and long-term portfolio targets. We'll also explore how MSCI's broader climate dataset supports ongoing monitoring of policy requirements, including fossil fuel exposure, clean energy ratios, and deforestation screening. 

Key takeaways: 

• Overview of the SBTi FINZ Standard, its key requirements, and what it means for financial institutions 
• An overview of MSCI's eligible climate metrics under the Implementation List, and additional metrics that can support policy development and monitoring 
• Practical walkthrough: setting near-term and long-term portfolio targets using MSCI data, with a focus on asset manager and asset owner requirements