Systemic risk

As the economic and societal impacts of climate change continue to mount, and critical climate tipping points edge closer, the urgency of decisive action has never been greater. Business leaders are beginning to respond. In just the past few weeks, several economic and scientific reports have emerged, underscoring the magnitude of future climate risk, the potential economic consequences and the importance of early action.

The COP process can feel detached from the day-to-day realities of business, but the decisions made at the summit will have material impacts on the future of our economies and private sector climate action. Susan Hooper, board member at Chapter Zero and Non-executive Director at Moonpig plc and Uber UK, sets out the key issues for board leaders following the talks.

Wildfires, floods, pandemics, food insecurity, extreme heat, poor air quality, pests, sanitation failures – these climate-related occurrences have significant consequences on health. And these consequences have an impact on business, as well as the value chain and ecosystem in which each business operates.

This Climate Governance Initiative case study looks at Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a leading infrastructure investment company in the Philippines, viewing the challenges of a developing nation like the Philippines as an opportunity for bold climate leadership.

Procurement has an important role to play in the net zero transition. By capitalising on green public procurement (GPP) opportunities and integrating sustainability into procurement practices, businesses can drive down their emissions whilst gaining strategic advantages.

World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report, published 14 January, crowned uncertainty as the defining theme of the global risks outlook in 2026.

The 2024 Global Risks Report from the World Economic Forum, published on 10 January 2024, highlights climate as one of the top risks economies and societies are facing both in the near and long term.

In this 2024 Global Foresight report, undertaken by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC), eight critical global shifts are accelerating a triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss, pollution and waste.