EU & international climate policy, finance, and frameworks

For boards, COP30 is a lighthouse reminder that evolving climate policy is reshaping regulation and markets, making it essential to "integrate climate, biodiversity, and social factors into strategy."

Climate COPs, biodiversity COPs and even desertification COPs have brought governments together; they have also given the planet a seat at the table. But let’s not forget that these occasions also drive private sector action, says Chapter Zero Senior Advisor Matt Scott.

In 2024-25, Chapter Zero has partnered with McKinsey for a three-part event series that explores the impact non-executive directors (NEDs) can have on helping to accelerate their organisations’ net zero transition. The second session, held on 3rd December, analysed the international climate policy landscape following COP29 and surfaced key insights for the boardroom.

Read the summary from Chapter Zero and the Deloitte Academy's webinar exploring the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), an EU regulation that requires sustainability information to be reported alongside financial information and subject to assurance.

Looking ahead after the COP28 climate conference, what are the key takeaways for NEDs?

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (effective from 1 January 2026) requires EU importers to report on and purchase CBAM certificates to cover the emissions embedded in their imported goods. This UK Government briefing helps NEDs keep up to date with the latest regulatory requirements for EU imports, including: iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and traded electricity.

Statements from UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the opening plenary of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on 6 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. On 6 November 2025 Country leaders at COP30 climate summit in Brazil bemoaned the fractured global consensus on climate action.

After late negotiations EU climate ministers agreed a 2040 climate change target on 5th November 2025 as they raced to clinch the deal before the U.N. COP30 summit in Brazil. In a public vote, climate ministers approved a compromise to cut emissions 90% from 1990 levels by 2040, but with flexibilities to weaken this aim.

Carbon Brief's interactive table was created to track parties' positions on key negotiation points at the summit, analysing nearly 100 submissions to provide information at a glance. Topics include adaptation, Baku to Belém roadmap, and response measures.

This article from the Climate Governance Initiative, written 5 September 2024, provides an overview of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure rule.

Mark Vaessen, KPMG Partner in The Netherlands, looks at key features of the final European Sustainability Reporting Standards and interoperability with international standard-settings initiatives. From FY24, companies will be required to provide granular sustainability information.

In this blog, André Guedel and Olivier Eichenberger, KPMG Switzerland, explore the different types of incentives for innovation, sustainable industrialization and decarbonization in the EU and the USA.

Watch Chapter Zero and the Deloitte Academy explore the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), an EU regulation that requires sustainability information to be reported alongside financial information and subject to assurance.