Business leaders have joined forces to launch Chapter Zero Southern Africa, a community of eminent board chairpersons and senior directors to lead and engage in boardroom discussions to ensure that fossil carbon emissions are halved by 2030. 

This initiative was developed in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and represents the twenty-ninth chapter around the globe and second in Africa.

The inaugural meeting took place on Thursday at the Wits Business School in Parktown.

Newly appointed Southern Africa chairperson Maurice Radebe highlighted the importance of this climate governance initiative to mobilise company boards towards climate action.

“Bringing together the 16 Member States of the Southern Africa Development Community around a common goal of driving climate action from the board level, Chapter Zero Southern Africa is building a community of climate-focused directors. The Climate Governance Initiative looks forward to supporting the Chapter in this crucial mission,” Radebe said.

He urged the private sector to act with purpose to secure a sustainable future for the planet and future generations. He has also alluded to the need for innovative strategic imperatives to drive climate action.

Leading this drive is Chapter Zero Southern Africa CEO Carolynn Chalmers, who noted the immersive training board members will receive to equip them in driving climate action in their respective organisations effectively and responsibly.

“The newly minted twenty-ninth chapter aims to connect its members in Southern Africa to a vast network of more than 100 000 nonexecutive directors across 58 countries. The next three years are critical in business response to climate change. The 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report flagged a ‘code red’ for humanity. It warned that emissions globally needed to be halved by 2030 to ensure average temperature increase does not exceed 1.5 ⁰ by 2050,” Chalmers said.

Chapter Zero Southern Africa’s founding directors and patrons include:

• Business Unity South Africa president, Bidvest and SBV chairperson Bonang Mohale
• Public Investment Corporation deputy chairperson Futhi Mtoba
• Investec South Africa chairperson Khumo Shuenyane
• Massmart and Aspen chairperson Kuseni Dlamini
• Imperial Logistics, Delta Property Fund and Metrolife chairperson Phumzile Langeni
• General Electric Southern Africa CEO Nyimpini Mabunda
• Anglo-American Platinum chairperson Norman Mbazima