Chapter Zero's 2026 flagship event: 'Boards, climate and pathways to the new economy'

A summary of the evening

On the 30th of September, an energetic and exciting evening of presentations, panels, film, poetry and networking was enjoyed by Chapter Zero members, kindly hosted by WTW. The auditorium buzzed with more than 300 board members and senior business leaders, including over 50 FTSE 350 Chairs and non-executive directors.

WTW’s Gaby Joyner called for board members to challenge assumptions underpinning transition plans and for boards to fully comprehend business interconnectedness. Vicky Moffatt pointed out that Chapter Zero, as a model for change, is working because demands on boardrooms have never been greater and Chapter Zero provides the know-how, tools and crucial peer network to help boards with the systems thinking so central to oversight. Tom Delay CBE agreed and said that proof points of board action are critical; events like this one prompt action.

We were reminded of some harsh realities in relation to energy transition by Lord Adair Turner. He gave us his assessment of transition data and pointed out that global warming is not only definitely happening and definitely causing harm, but also getting worse. The good news is that clean electrification technologies are ahead of where we thought they would be; but he warned we have to tackle the hard to abate sectors too, not only focus on electrification.

John Flint and Nigel Topping CMG talked about the planet entering the zone of non-linear tipping points, with a poorly prepared economy (in spite of net zero being a legally binding commitment in the UK) and ecosystems at risk of collapse, resulting in a national security at risk. They contrasted poor action on environmental crime with the sophisticated mechanisms for handling financial crime.

Climate and health was the topic of both Richard Gillingwater CBE's presentation and a short film produced by Wellcome Trust and Chapter Zero. He talked of both doubling down on climate and health as a major area of funding of scientific research for Wellcome and bringing that work to policymakers to push the human aspects of climate change up the agenda.

Jo Harlow presided over a panel of experts comprising David Blood, Rachel Kyte and Fumbi Chima. They discussed shaping the roadmap to the new economy through investment, not finger-wagging, and pointed to encumbrance and inertia as the evil twins holding us back. The evening concluded with a reminder of the science by Prof Emily Shuckburgh CBE, two case studies demonstrating transformative climate action within business from Dr James Wilde and Roisin Donnelly; and an inspiring poem from Chapter Zero’s own Sashawne Smith.