Climate Change: Science Snapshot 2025 – An overview for New Zealand directors

Developed by Chapter Zero New Zealand in partnership with Earth Sciences New Zealand, this guide provides directors with a clear, science-based overview of how the climate is changing globally and here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Adapted from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and CSIRO resource, this New Zealand edition distils complex scientific evidence into a concise, practical format for boards helping directors understand the physical drivers of change, the implications for governance and how to respond strategically.

This resource provides directors with key insights on:

- Understanding climate change science – The key principles of climate science and how physical climate drivers influence organisational risk and resilience.
- Global and regional outlook – How the world’s climate is changing and what New Zealand-specific data shows about temperature, rainfall, sea-level rise and extreme events.
- Impacts and implications for Aotearoa – The likely effects on infrastructure, supply chains, ecosystems, and communities, and the sectors most exposed to climate-related risk.
- Governance considerations for boards – How directors can use scientific evidence to inform strategic planning, risk oversight and decision-making in the boardroom.

Together, these insights help directors make well-informed decisions and strengthen governance in a changing climate.