Climate change is no longer a standalone ESG consideration; it has become a core boardroom issue, shaping strategy, resilience and long-term value creation.
Norman Broadbent is proud to have contributed to Climate Competency in the Boardroom, a landmark report from Chapter Zero, developed in collaboration with nine leading executive search firms to establish a practical framework for climate competency among Non-Executive Directors.
The report supports Chapter Zero's ambition to see at least two climate-competent Non-Executive Directors serving on every FTSE 350 board and the UK's largest private company boards by 2028. It provides boards, chairs, NEDs and board advisers with a clear framework for understanding how climate competency can strengthen governance and improve oversight of climate-related risks and opportunities.
Our Board Practice Partner, Tanya Gass, contributed to the report, sharing her perspective on the evolving role of today's Non-Executive Director:
"The NED skillset required for effective climate oversight builds on core directorial capabilities: taking a long-term view, understanding systemic risk and ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the business model. Climate is not a discrete topic, but one that must be integrated across strategy, operations and capital allocation."
The publication defines climate competency across four key areas - knowledge, skills, leadership and mindset - and reinforces that effective climate oversight is not simply about technical expertise. It is about judgement, adaptability and embedding climate considerations into strategic decision-making.
As organisations navigate economic transition, technological change and increasing regulatory expectations, climate competency is becoming an essential component of board effectiveness.
Read the full Climate Competency in the Boardroom report here.