Roundtable Discussion on Board-level Climate Governance

What’s next?

This powerful question was posed at the end of the roundtable discussion on board-level climate governance that I was delighted to attend this morning, organized by the Chapter Zero Alliance.

The Chapter Zero Alliance is an established global network spanning 70 countries and reaching over 100,000 directors. Its mission is to foster a climate-resilient, nature-positive economy by equipping board directors with the insights and peer support necessary to confidently lead transformative action. Their work is vital, turning climate and nature risks into long-term strategic value and new market opportunities that benefit the economy, people, and the planet.

Too often, climate governance is marginalized in board meetings—either set aside for seemingly more pressing matters or relegated to a brief report. It is mistakenly viewed as a long-term risk that can be deferred. However, immediate experience proves otherwise.

The Philippines, for instance, ranks first in the 2025 World Risk Index for vulnerability to flooding. This vulnerability is not a distant threat; it causes immediate economic disruption, agricultural and property loss, and infrastructure breakdown. Furthermore, it carries a significant human and social impact, including loss of life, displacement, educational disruption, and health hazards. The fierce monsoon rains in Manila last year tragically underscored the critical need for robust governance and oversight to ensure that resilience efforts deliver their intended impact, instead of being eaten up by corruption.

The collective answer from the participants on whether climate risk is equal to financial risk was a resounding yes, but its impact is far broader. Climate risk is inextricably linked to financial, reputational, and great social risk.

A key challenge remains: while board members may personally understand the importance of climate action, many lack the specific knowledge required to ask the right oversight questions. I was extremely enthused to learn that the Chapter Zero Alliance provides crucial resources free of charge to its Chapters and member directors. These include guides, case studies, and learning materials on board-level climate and nature governance, all available on their website at https://chapterzeroalliance.org/.

An especially valuable resource, “Board Reflections and Management Oversight Questions,” is available right on their site. For faster access, a QR code for this resource is available on the group photo of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) directors and Sustainability Committee members who attended the roundtable.

I extend my sincere thanks to Matthew Moss, Rosie Alexander Ward, Hanna Pacua, and Pat Dwyer for the engaging event and the invaluable knowledge shared! My appreciation also goes to Dennis Montecillo, ICD’s Sustainability Committee Chair, and co-chair Jonas Marie Dumdum for organizing our participation in this important discussion!