Explainers

The Business Case
Review Ambition
Drive Board Action
Implement the Transition
Ensure Accountability
Accelerate Business Transformation
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Explainer | 30 Aug 2023

What is COP?

COP refers to the United Nations’ annual conference on climate change. Its 28th meeting (COP28) is scheduled to begin November 30, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. McKinsey explains the background and significance.

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Explainer | 3 Aug 2023

Primer on climate change

The Climate Governance Initiative has published the third edition of the Primer on Climate Change: Directors’ Duties and Disclosure Obligations. Produced with the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative and covering 31 countries and the EU, it outlines the general climate obligations for board directors.

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Explainer | 12 Jul 2023

Net zero targets among world's largest companies double, but credibility gaps undermine progress

Net zero is a corporate norm, with almost two-thirds (65%) of the annual revenue of the world’s largest 2000 companies now covered by a net zero target. Net Zero Tracker looks at the published targets at 12 June 2023.

Collaboration with Centre for Climate Engagement
Explainer | 10 Jul 2023

SEC climate disclosure briefing for Board directors

This briefing, produced by the Climate Governance Initiative, explores and discusses the context of the proposed SEC climate disclosure rule, the current status and likely next steps, and provides key questions for board directors to ask their boards in relation to it.

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Explainer | 5 Jul 2023

Normative accounting for intangibles

A briefing from Rethinking Capital and the Centre for Climate Engagement on applying normative accounting for intangibles in net zero transition decision governance and reporting.

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Explainer | 27 Jun 2023

Ten things to know about the first ISSB Standards

The IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards have been designed to provide a global baseline of sustainability-related disclosures for the capital markets. Here are 10 things you need to know about the ISSB’s new standards.

Collaboration with Centre for Climate Engagement
Explainer | 20 Jun 2023

Navigating the climate disclosure landscape

This explainer provides an overview of the evolving and interconnected landscape of climate targets, metrics, reporting standards and frameworks for non-executive directors (NEDs).

Legal risks of climate inaction
Collaboration with White & Case
Explainer | 14 Jun 2023

Legal risks of climate inaction

Chapter Zero and White & Case held a session for non-executive directors (NEDs) in May 2023 offering practical advice and insights on the key legal duties and obligations of NEDs in relation to climate change. Here are the key takeaways.

Collaboration with McKinsey & Company
Explainer | 6 Jun 2023

Grow or go: leading the transition

In 2023, Chapter Zero partnered with McKinsey for a three-part event series that explored the impact non-executive directors (NEDs) can have in the boardroom to help their organisations achieve net zero. The first of these sessions, held on Tuesday 6 June, focused on the strategic fundamentals of green growth, and how NEDs can support organisations to move from pledges to plans and help them achieve low-carbon growth. We have summarised below the key takeaways of this event.

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Explainer | 6 Jun 2023

Corporate climate policy engagement: A briefing for board directors

Conducting corporate climate policy engagement positively and appropriately is critical to creating the conditions that will enable a company to achieve its net zero transition. This briefing, produced by the Climate Governance Initiative in collaboration with the global think tank InfluenceMap, highlights the key issues that board directors should be aware of.

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Explainer | 1 Jun 2023

How can board directors prepare for the upcoming TNFD framework release?

As stewards of their organisations, board directors will benefit from understanding the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework ahead of its official launch in September 2023, and its implications for the organisations they represent. This Climate Governance Initiative briefing provides guidance to board directors on how to prepare for the incoming framework.

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Explainer | 1 May 2023

Climate scenario analysis for banks and financial institutions

In this three-part series on climate scenario analysis, KPMG examines banks and other financial institutions’ end-to-end climate risk scenario analysis models.