Chapter Zero New Zealand

That’s a wrap on our final Chapter Zero NZ breakfast for 2025 – and what a way to end the year. This morning we heard from Michael Kobori, former Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks and Vice President of Sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co., in conversation with Ross Buckley CMInstD. Together, they explored how directors can translate purpose and values into measurable, long-term impact – and what that looks like in practice. In this short video, Alec Tang MInstD from KPMG New Zealand, one of our Steering Committee members, shares what stood out most – including the need to connect global sustainability ambition with local governance action, and the importance of embedding sustainability targets into core business goals. It’s not just about accountability – it’s about being clear on the value and opportunities that sustainability can create. A big thank you to ASB Bank, a Chapter Zero New Zealand partner, for supporting this event and helping bring these conversations into the boardroom. 👉 Keen to hear more? Become a Chapter Zero supporter to be the first to hear upcoming events and updates. Join here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gYygTzD6 Laurissa Cooney

Don't miss your chance to hear from Michael Kobori, one of the leading voices in sustainability, this Friday at the Chapter Zero breakfast. Only a few spots left, and trust us, you'll want to be in the room for this one. 📍7am-9am, 7 November | Auckland | Register here https://lnkd.in/gbP-wtqF

Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, highlights how finance, policy and innovation must align to accelerate the energy transition. For boards, the message is clear: capital will increasingly flow toward low-carbon opportunities – and away from delay. Read more in this article 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dnjVxwsS And while you're delving into this topic, take a look at this resource we released in collaboration with Dentons New Zealand 👉 Leading the charge: A director's guide to energy transition https://lnkd.in/gptUsFbC

Chapter Zero special guest Michael Kobori joined Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan for a lively conversation. 👉 Catch the full interview (link in the comments) and join us at the upcoming Chapter Zero breakfast to hear more insights directly from Michael. 7 November | Auckland | https://lnkd.in/gbP-wtqF

📩 Our newsletter is your monthly briefing on climate governance. Subscribe for free and stay informed with insightful articles, practical resources and access to free webinars ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gYygTzD6 This edition's must-see features: Media release | Directors will no longer be personally liable for forward-looking climate statements under proposed reforms released by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson 🔗https://lnkd.in/daFYFmc8 Article | IMHO: The climate transition is inevitable – and directors play a key role in ambition, accountability and transparency 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dnjVxwsS Webinar | From pledges to progress: Risks, duties and the disclosure of sustainability targets 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dhbSjzjW Event | Chapter Zero NZ breakfast with Michael Kobori 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gbP-wtqF

As expectations intensify and challenges mount, many organisations are grappling with setting – or resetting – sustainability targets. Join Daniel Street (Partner at DLA Piper), Judene Edgar CMInstD JP (Chapter Zero New Zealand Lead) and Nikki Wright (Director at Wright Communications (New Zealand), as they examine these issues and share real-world examples that illustrate what has worked, what has not and why. Presented in collaboration with the Sustainable Business Council, DLA Piper and Chapter Zero New Zealand, this webinar promises valuable insights and expert perspectives. 📍 18 November | Free | Register now https://lnkd.in/dhbSjzjW

🎯 Purpose vs. Performance. For those with sustainability on the boardroom agenda, this conversation is nothing new. The question remains: Can values truly translate into value – and how? Michael Kobori, a sustainability leader with decades of experience guiding global brands like Starbucks and Levi Strauss & Co., knows firsthand that sustainability isn’t just a bolt-on, it’s a powerful driver of performance when it’s embedded into core business. From leading Starbuck’s global programs and delivering high-impact investments to shaping Levi’s leadership in sustainability, Michael proved that purpose and performance can go hand in hand – to drive growth, productivity and brand value. So how did he make it work? His work has made headlines – and now you have the chance to hear from him live and connect in person. Join Michael at our upcoming breakfast event for a fireside chat on strategy, climate and long-term value creation. Come curious. Leave inspired. Register today to secure your spot ⬇️ 📍 7 November | Auckland | Register 🔗https://lnkd.in/gbP-wtqF

Aotearoa New Zealand is still in the early stages of mobilising climate capital. But critical groundwork is under way – from emissions reporting and sustainable finance taxonomies to transition planning and investor engagement. This article by Judene Edgar CMInstD JP (Chapter Zero NZ Lead) and Barry Coates (Co-CEO of Mindful Money) explores how early climate investment signals are forming a platform for broader action – and what this means for directors and decision-makers. Read here 👉https://lnkd.in/g_c_ynTm Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua | Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC)

As global standards evolve, directors are being asked to demonstrate credible, science-based performance across a broader set of environmental measures. Boards that embed nature into decisions will be better placed to manage regulatory change – but what does this look like in practice? Read this article by Lauren Boyd (Planetary Accounting Specialist) and Alice Oswald (Senior Planetary Accountant) from the Planetary Accounting Network. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gRkRN85P

Agriculture is no longer just on the front line of climate change – it’s at the epicentre. KPMG New Zealand’s latest Agribusiness Agenda (https://lnkd.in/gth5sJik) shows a clear shift: climate resilience has jumped 23 places in priority. The message? The time for discussion is over – now it's about execution. Boards must be bold. We need to connect the paddock to the plan, engage with the hard conversations – land use change, uninsurable land, managed retreat – and rethink resilience not as recovery, but as transformation. As Judene Edgar CMInstD JP writes, it’s not about bouncing back – it’s about bouncing forward. Read article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gvAiGBus Ian Proudfoot Alec Tang