Can corporate boards give firms preferential access to climate finance? Redefining what makes a good board of directors, we introduce the concept of climate conscious boards. These are boards that have climate advocates serving as members, are linked to an internal or external climate-related committee and have set net zero targets. Focusing on the financial opportunities linked to climate change, we argue that climate conscious boards of directors can influence their firm's access to climate finance. Using data on thirteen publicly-listed African firms in the NetZero database and the eleven private sector-led projects funded by the Climate Investment Funds and the African Development Bank, we examine the potential role and impact of corporate boards on Africa's private sector engagement with the green bond market and multilateral climate funds. Our study has implications for how firms might look towards transforming corporate governance practices in an era where climate change has risen to the top of the strategic agenda.
