As a crucial year for climate ambition draws to an end, Karen Hoffa, Programme Manager at Chapter Zero, highlights our new resources and reflects on the progress we’ve made this year in helping our members bring climate ambition to the boardroom.
2021 has been a dramatic year for climate ambition. After the UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the latest IPCC report as ‘code red for humanity’, the highly anticipated COP26 took place in Glasgow. In the words of Alok Sharma, COP26 President, the conference ‘kept 1.5 degrees alive. But the pulse of 1.5 is weak.’
COP also made it clear that business must lead the way. More businesses than ever made ambitious climate pledges in 2021, with more than 5,000 signed up to the Race to Zero. At Chapter Zero we have seen a new wave of engaged and influential non-executive directors who are committed to taking on the net zero challenge.
But for many businesses the transition to net zero has only just started.
Throughout this year we have provided our members with events and briefings to help them understand and grapple with the complex elements that feed into this journey. Here are some of the highlights:
New resources for NEDs
This summer we relaunched our website and introduced a knowledge hub. Split into topics under three main sections – climate context, business implications & response and your role – it’s designed to help you understand how climate change relates to your businesses and actions that need to be taken.
Over the year we have produced a selection of summaries on important climate-related announcements and topics.
Our knowledge hub
Explore information from Chapter Zero and industry experts on climate change in the boardroom, focused around three broad questions for non-executive directors to consider.
Scope emissions explained
Knowing where your company’s emissions are made is an important step in planning and setting robust and measurable targets. We explain scope emissions and how to define them.
Carbon offsetting explained
Carbon offsetting is often discussed in relation to corporate emissions reductions strategies. But where does it fit in? Read our summary.
The UK’s Net Zero Strategy: what does it mean for NEDs?
Our summary highlights the main points in the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy, and what it means for non-executive directors.
Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis
Read our summary of the main points in the latest IPCC report, released in August, and what it means for non-executive directors.
COP26: key takeaways for NEDs
This Centre for Climate Engagement summary includes the key climate trends and announcements of most importance for non-executive directors and industry leaders from COP26 in November 2021.
We have a variety of content planned for 2022, so if you want to be sent the latest Chapter Zero news and resources, become a member.
RegisterChapter Zero events
Our events programme is designed for NEDs to increase their understanding of the action business needs to take, and what questions to ask in their boardrooms.
With the help of generous support and expertise from our partners, supporters, members and climate experts, we have provided a range of inspiring events during 2021.
A few of the highlights
Our flagship “in conversation with Emily Farnworth” series has been well received by our members, with senior business leaders sharing their insights and offering practical steps that NEDs can take on their boards to address climate change:
COP26 and the boardroom: what’s next?
Chris Stark, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, Ruth Cairnie, Chapter Zero Supporting Chair, and Iain Wright of ICAEW reflected on the UK’s 6th Budget.
The role of the board, energy transition and the harder-to-abate sectors
Lord Adair Turner shared his expertise in the energy sector and his views on how to speed up progress, including in sectors where emissions are high and reducing them is particularly hard.
COP26 and the boardroom: what’s next?
Mark Tucker, Chair of HSBC and Chapter Zero Supporting Chair, and Nicola Brewer, NED at Iberdrola SA, provided inspiration and advice on how boards can develop a credible pathway to net zero.
Many of our events are hosted in collaboration with our partners and supporters. The Carbon Trust has provided their expertise in workshops for NEDs on TCFD and climate leadership, and the Deloitte Academy climate series offers a range of topics for board members.
Boardroom decisions: A fictional board grapples with physical climate impacts
In collaboration with GARP and part of the inaugural global summit of the CGI, this interactive session allowed NEDs to delve into future boardroom scenarios.
Planning ahead: Climate and annual reporting
We looked practical considerations for NEDs to be aware of with the evolution of climate reporting and disclosure over the next few years.
Spotlight on: Climate risk and the financial sector
With the support of HSBC, we repurposed a series of webinars into five short videos, as well as running three events for NEDs of financial institutions as a pilot for a global climate hub for the sector.
I would like to thank all those who have given their time, effort, and expertise to help us equip non-executive directors to lead crucial UK boardroom discussions on the impacts of climate change.
See our full events list and past events library of recordings here.
Where is Chapter Zero now?
1,800+ members of Chapter Zero
197 FTSE350 businesses with a Chapter Zero member on their board
92% of event participants would recommend Chapter Zero to others
Highlights from this year include Don Robert, Chapter Zero Supporting Chair and LSEG Chair, promoting our work at an LSEG Market Open ceremony during COP26 and our year-long campaign with the Financial Times and a range of supporting businesses which put the spotlight on the role the board has in getting business to net zero.
Our global network also continues to grow. The Climate Governance Initiative now has Chapters in 20 countries and represents more than 100,000 board directors worldwide.
We have been delighted to see the uptake in membership over this past year and we have a lot planned for 2022 as Chapter Zero continues to grow.
If you are not already a member of Chapter Zero, you can join here.
If you are a member and have any feedback for us or requests for topics you would be interested for us to cover, please let us know.
Karen Hoffa, Programme Manager at Chapter Zero