Harnessing Resilience in the Storm
Mobilising board directors and business leaders to drive climate governance, ESG strategy, and sustainable growth across Southern Africa.
What We Do
Chapter Zero Southern Africa operates across three interconnected pillars — connecting business leaders to climate knowledge, events, and global insights that drive real governance change.
Bringing Leaders Together
We create structured spaces where board directors and executives engage directly on climate governance — building peer networks that last beyond any single event.
- Board-level roundtables and forums
- Annual climate governance summit
- Peer learning cohorts for NEDs and trustees
- Cross-sector leadership dialogues
Building Board-Ready Capability
We equip governing body members with the frameworks, tools, and knowledge needed to integrate climate risk into strategy, oversight, and decision-making.
- Climate governance training and workshops
- Board briefings on ESG reporting standards
- Practical tools for climate risk oversight
- Access to global Chapter Zero resources and research
Spreading Knowledge and Insight
We curate and share high-quality intelligence — from global climate science to local regulatory shifts — keeping Southern African leaders informed and ahead of the curve.
- Curated climate and ESG insights newsletter
- Research reports and policy briefings
- Thought leadership from global climate experts
- Regional and international best-practice case studies
The Value of Membership
Chapter Zero Southern Africa is built for leaders who take governance seriously. Every benefit is designed to translate into boardroom impact.
Climate Literacy at Board Level
Equip your board with the fluency to interrogate climate risk, challenge management assumptions, and embed sustainability into every strategic decision — not just the annual report.
Monthly Executive Learning Events
Attend curated forums, roundtables, and expert briefings designed around the realities of a board director's schedule — substantive, time-efficient, and immediately applicable.
Access to the Chapter Zero Network
Join a global movement of over 15,000 board directors across 15+ countries. Share intelligence, benchmark practices, and draw from governance frameworks that are shaping policy worldwide.
ESG Reporting and Compliance Support
Navigate TCFD, ISSB, and local regulatory frameworks with confidence. Gain practical tools to strengthen disclosure quality and manage the reputational and legal risks of non-compliance.
Recognised CPD Accreditation
Earn continuing professional development credits through accredited programming. Demonstrate a measurable commitment to climate governance as a board director or trustee.
Ahead of the Transition Curve
Access early intelligence on regulatory shifts, investor expectations, and just transition developments across the SADC region — before they reach the mainstream boardroom agenda.
Our Workstreams
Five structured workstreams, each accountable for a distinct area of strategy — together delivering the full scope of Chapter Zero Southern Africa's mandate.
Sustainability Governance
Shaping the frameworks and standards that define climate accountability in the boardroom.
- Regulatory development and compliance standards
- Climate governance and ESG frameworks
- Engagement with IFRS, ISSB, TNFD, and JSE
Membership Engagement
Building a seamless, high-value experience for every member of the network.
- Digital membership platform and CRM
- Marketing and communications strategy
- Website and member experience
Global & Regional Engagement
Connecting Southern Africa to the global climate governance conversation.
- Engagement with global Chapter Zero and CGI networks
- Monitoring and translating global developments
- Regional chapter collaboration across SADC
Business Leadership Engagement
Mobilising C-suites and boards to lead the climate transition with purpose and authority.
- C-suite and board-level engagement
- Strategic partnerships with leading institutions
- Corporate membership and leadership forums
Knowledge & Learning
Delivering structured, accredited learning that turns climate awareness into governance action.
- Learning programmes and curated events
- Content curation and thought leadership
- Corporate and individual development initiatives
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Chapter Zero Southern Africa aligns with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, working with board directors to integrate these principles into corporate governance and climate action.
Learn more about the SDGsNo Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030. This includes ensuring equal rights to economic resources, basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, and access to financial services.
Key Targets:
- Equal rights to economic resources
- Social protection systems
- Resilience to climate events
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Ensure access to safe, nutritious food year-round and double agricultural productivity.
Key Targets:
- End all forms of malnutrition
- Sustainable food production
- Resilient agricultural practices
Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Reduce maternal mortality, end preventable deaths of newborns and children, and combat communicable diseases.
Key Targets:
- Reduce maternal mortality
- Universal health coverage
- Access to medicines and vaccines
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Build and upgrade education facilities that are inclusive and provide safe learning environments.
Key Targets:
- Free primary and secondary education
- Equal access to vocational training
- Inclusive education facilities
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. End all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, and ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making.
Key Targets:
- End discrimination against women
- Eliminate violence and harmful practices
- Equal leadership opportunities
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Achieve universal access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and improve water quality.
Key Targets:
- Universal access to safe water
- Adequate sanitation and hygiene
- Protect water-related ecosystems
Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy
Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Increase substantially the share of renewable energy and double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
Key Targets:
- Universal access to electricity
- Increase renewable energy
- Double energy efficiency
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Achieve higher productivity through innovation and protect labor rights.
Key Targets:
- Productive employment for all
- Protect labor rights
- Promote safe working environments
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive industrialization
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Develop quality infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.
Key Targets:
- Develop sustainable infrastructure
- Promote inclusive industrialization
- Increase access to ICT
Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries. Empower and promote social, economic and political inclusion of all, and ensure equal opportunity by eliminating discriminatory laws and policies.
Key Targets:
- Reduce income inequalities
- Promote social inclusion
- Facilitate migration and mobility
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Ensure access to adequate housing and basic services, upgrade slums, and provide universal access to safe public spaces.
Key Targets:
- Safe and affordable housing
- Sustainable transport systems
- Inclusive urbanization
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Achieve sustainable management of natural resources, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Key Targets:
- Sustainable natural resource management
- Reduce food waste
- Sustainable business practices
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, integrate climate measures into policies and planning.
Key Targets:
- Strengthen climate resilience
- Integrate climate into policy
- Improve climate education
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Prevent and reduce marine pollution, protect marine ecosystems, and regulate fishing practices.
Key Targets:
- Reduce marine pollution
- Protect marine ecosystems
- End overfishing
Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt biodiversity loss and prevent species extinction.
Key Targets:
- Conserve forest ecosystems
- Combat desertification
- Prevent species extinction
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Key Targets:
- Reduce violence and related deaths
- End abuse and exploitation
- Ensure equal access to justice
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize partnerships
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. Enhance international cooperation, promote knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
Key Targets:
- Strengthen domestic resource mobilization
- Technology development and transfer
- Multi-stakeholder partnerships
As board directors, understanding and integrating the SDGs into corporate strategy is essential for sustainable governance.
Corporate Membership
Elevate your organization's commitment to climate governance with our comprehensive corporate membership program.
Partner with Chapter Zero Southern Africa
Be part of a growing network of organizations committed to climate-conscious governance.
Get Started TodayWhy Corporate Membership?
Unlock exclusive benefits that empower your entire leadership team to drive sustainable governance.
Cohesion and Competence
Include executives who support your governing bodies' sustainability decisions with comprehensive training and resources.
Global Affiliation and Support
Demonstrate your commitment to Chapter Zero principles and support Southern Africa's Just Transition journey.
Accountability and Transparency
Annual report on governing body member sustainability growth and development in your chosen format.
Ready to transform your governance?
Contact us for tailored membership options.
Become a Member
We're building a community of directors, trustees, accounting officers and other governing body members who understand the business risks and opportunities of climate change.
Join for free to access:
One cannot be prepared for something, while secretly believing it will not happen.
Nelson MandelaFormer President of South Africa
Get in Touch
Fill out the form below to join our communications and events. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Not a governing body member?
If you are an executive committee member, company secretary or sustainability officer, you can also join the events if your organisation is a Corporate Member.
We provide 11 training events per year as well as monthly networking activities.
Training events are held as hybrid events, in-person at various locations across the region, and simultaneously online. Recordings of our training events are available for members on request.
Networking events are held in partnership with collaborating organisations. If such opportunities carry a cost, we ensure that specials are for our members.
Join and we will keep you updated with news and event participation details.
Past Events
Swipe or scroll to explore5 reasons why boards should care about climate and sustainability
16 July 2024
The board directors we spoke to pointed to a variety of reasons, like:
Credible Climate Oversight
18 January 2024
This presentation by Stephanie Bertels provides guidance for boards on:
Navigating the sustainability reporting landscape
21 September 2023
This presentation by Joanne Henstock provides guidance for boards on:
Climate Change and Climate Accountability - New Insights
19 October 2023
This presentation by Dr Alex Hetherington provides recent updates regarding:
Evolving expectations of credible corporate climate action
30 November 2023
This presentation by Prof Ralph Hamann provides guidance for boards on:
