The Climate Governance Initiative of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched Chapter Zero in the Netherlands, following fifty other countries. All Dutch company commissioners are invited to join this, with the aim of supporting them in encouraging their companies to become 'Paris proof'. The initiators and founders of Chapter Zero Netherlands are Deloitte, Baker McKenzie and the University of Groningen.

Chapter Zero is an independent community for and by supervisory directors and is based on the eight principles for Effective Climate Governance; just transition. These include strategic integration, accountability, diversity and engagement with stakeholders. “Our goal is to build a large community of commissioners who encourage and learn from each other,” says Gisella van Vollenhoven, President Chapter Zero Netherlands. “We see that the urgency surrounding the climate is growing in the boardroom, but that the interpretation as a Supervisory Board member is not always in line with this. To this end, we can build up knowledge of climate change and sector-specific transitions and use the appropriate instruments, such as remuneration systems, management profiles and reports. But above all, sharing successful and unsuccessful practical experiences is essential.”

A lot of attention for launch event

The official launch of Chapter Zero Netherlands was accompanied yesterday by an event at the Kingdom Institute of the Tropics (KIT) in Amsterdam. Thirty commissioners, six external leaders from science, business and civil society were present. Prominent Dutch administrators also attended the event. Van Vollenhoven: “I appreciate that Dutch politicians and society are paying attention to this initiative. To me, this underscores the need for the establishment and importance of commissioners; I am very much looking forward to the positive change we will bring about together.”

Climate on the agenda

Chapter Zero wants to effectively get climate on board. To this end, it organizes events, webinars, round table sessions, workshops and training courses. Supervisory Board members determine what is on the agenda. Van Vollenhoven: “We not only share relevant knowledge and experiences, but also provide the right tools so that supervisory directors can conduct the discussion in the right way. In this way we enable them to fulfil their climate responsibility fully. This allows them to have measures taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result directly and indirectly from their business activities. This while continuing their healthy business operations.”

About Chapter Zero

Chapter Zero is an international organization founded from the Climate Governance Initiative of the WEF and is a community of and for commissioners. In 2019, the first chapter was founded in the United Kingdom in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. More than twenty chapters are now active in more than fifty countries and almost 2,500 commissioners have joined Chapter Zero. The initiators and founders of Chapter Zero Netherlands are Deloitte, Baker McKenzie and the University of Groningen