Blog articles

Chapter Zero members and Fellows have helped put climate and health boardroom conversations into context to enable us to understand the status quo from the boardroom point of view and learn how these nascent conversations are being governed.

In the financial services sector, climate risk is no longer just about compliance; increasingly it is seen through the lens of business opportunity. But climate-health conversations don’t yet show up at the strategic level. They are a ‘second order’ discussion for banks and asset managers. It is in the insurance industry where climate-health lands commercially.

Climate risk – including the acute, human risk of extreme heat, drought and flooding – sits within, not alongside, directors’ existing fiduciary and care duties across every sector, says Julie Hirigoyen, Non-executive Director on the boards of Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd, The Kings Cross Group and Thriving Investments Ltd; and independent sustainability advisor and member of Chapter Zero.

Richard Barker, Board Member of the International Sustainability Standards Board, says that while companies might carry climate-health-related risks, a couple of hurdles need to be jumped for information about those risks to be reported to investors. The first is that they must potentially affect the company’s financial prospects. The second is that those effects must be capable of affecting an investor’s decision about financing the company. There is judgement in this. It is for a company itself to decide on information about its business that is material to its investors. To the extent that climate-health risks can be expected to grow in scale and scope, disclosure about them would grow also.

For most boards, health and climate have traditionally been separate agenda items and different risk categories, writes Gillian Karran-Cumberlege, Head of Chair Advisory and Co-Founder Fidelio Partners, and Chapter Zero Fellow. She points out that, arguably, the primary challenge for boards is navigating increasingly interconnected risks and the interplay of climate and health is becoming one of the best examples of this.

Tina Mavraki is a FTSE100 Board Director, executive leader and advisor across industries; she is also a Chapter Zero Fellow. She reminds us of the old adage that you cannot manage what you cannot measure. That is why, to date, conversations about climate-health risks are largely absent in the boardroom.

Chapter Zero, the Directors’ Climate Forum, today announces the appointment of Jo Harlow as the future Chair of the board of directors. Jo succeeds Tom Delay CBE who will stand down as Chair because of family commitments. Following an orderly transition period, Jo will take over from Tom on 10 November 2026, and Tom will continue as a Chapter Zero Fellow.

Chapter Zero is thrilled that CEO Vicky Moffatt has been selected to appear on The Independent Climate 100 list. Now in its third year, The Independent’s Climate 100 list celebrates people from around the globe who are positive changemakers in their industry and are working towards a greener future amid the climate crisis.

Julie Hirigoyen, Non-Executive Director on the boards of Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd, The Kings Cross Group and Thriving Investments Ltd, and Independent Sustainability Advisor and member of Chapter Zero, reflects on climate, health and the boardroom. Julie sets out why climate and health are key considerations for boards, and what action must be taken by non-executive directors to both mitigate and adapt to the issue.

Chapter Zero, the philanthropically funded membership organisation, the Directors’ Climate Forum, today announces the appointment of Catherine May and Iain Anderson to the board of directors. These appointments will help Chapter Zero deliver its purpose of inspiring and equipping non-executive directors (NEDs) and Chairs to lead on climate from the boardroom; and help embed climate into business strategy. They will also help heighten Chapter Zero’s success in delivering impact.

Chapter Zero, the philanthropically funded membership organisation, the Directors’ Climate Forum, has announced that Yves Hayaux-du-Tilly will take Emily Farnworth's place on the Chapter Zero board.

With historic 37° June temperatures, getting down to specifics at London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026 became palpable. Anxiety was coupled with frustration that insufficient progress on climate has been made – including in boardrooms. Red warnings (danger to life) are bringing home just how much there is to do in so little time, writes Jo Murray, Chapter Zero Communications Director.