This month includes news from BVN, BVP, HKEX, LGX, WFE and more. Monthly news highlights are compiled by the SSE to give an overview of the capital markets' sustainability news from that month.
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SSE INITIATIVE NEWS & EVENTS
UN SSE welcomes Nicaragua Stock Exchange18 April 2021
The Nicaragua Stock Exchange — Bolsa de Valores de Nicaragua (BVN) — has solidified its commitment to transparency and sustainability by becoming a member of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative. The SSE’s newest member joins a network of now 102 stock exchanges around the world that are committed to promoting sustainable development.
New SSE Publication: How Derivatives Exchanges can Promote Sustainable Development – An Action Menu05 May 2021
The UN SSE initiative has launched a new guidance for derivatives exchanges prepared in collaboration with the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry group for exchanges. The joint report provides guidance on "How Derivatives Exchanges can Promote Sustainable Development - An Action Menu". The document was produced by an international Advisory Group made up of derivatives and stock exchange representatives and experts as well as experts from the wider ecosystem.
ICGN Governance of Sustainability DialogueUpcoming event: 23 June 2021
The SSE Initiative is proud to announce the Governance of Sustainability Dialogue, in partnership with ICGN and hosted by UNCTAD World Investment Forum. We are delighted to assemble these influential networks for two days of discussion and debate focused on global sustainability issues and risk management to develop long-term strategies, reporting and cooperation. Register here.
STOCK EXCHANGE NEWS
New Tokyo Stock Exchange chief all in for ESG09 April 2021
The Tokyo Stock Exchange will push Japanese companies to adopt more robust governance rules through an ambitious reorganization in a "big step toward becoming the bourse of choice for global investors," the new TSE chief told Nikkei in an interview.
HKEX Publishes Consultation Paper on Review of Corporate Governance Code and Related Listing Rules16 April 2021
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), has published a consultation paper outlining proposed enhancements to the Corporate Governance Code and Corporate Governance Report, as well as related amendments to the Listing Rules.
Panama Stock Exchange issues ESG reporting guidelines for issuers21 April 2021
The Panama Stock Exchange (BVP) presented the “Guide for Reporting and Voluntary Disclosure of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors (ASG)”, which has been prepared thanks to the support of IDB Invest. It was consulted with a working group of important players comprised of the capital markets, representatives of associations and companies promoting these principles.
Boursa Kuwait rings the bell for World Earth Day 202122 April 2021
Boursa Kuwait rang the bell for World Earth Day, one of the most important environmental initiatives around the world, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme's Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP) and the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF).
The Budapest Stock Exchange Published Its ESG Reporting Guide28 April 2021
The Budapest Stock Exchange published its first ESG Reporting Guide for Issuers. The Reporting Guide aims to help BSE-listed companies to understand the ESG approach, the importance of ESG reporting, the basic terms, actors, and processes involved as well as the roadmap that leads to the implementation of a stable reporting regime.
Thailand brings its sovereign sustainability bond to LuxSE28 April 2021
The sustainability bond, which is worth THB 50 billion (approximately EUR 1.3 billion), is displayed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), the world’s leading platform for sustainable securities.
REGULATOR AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS
FSA Japan: Revisions of Corporate Governance Code and Guidelines for Investor and Company Engagement06 April 2021
The Council of Experts Concerning the Follow-up of Japan’s Stewardship Code and Japan’s Corporate Governance Code has published an important proposal for the revisions of Japan's Corporate Governance Code and Guidelines for Investor and Company Engagement.
GRI and SASB reporting ‘complement each other’08 April 2021
Joint research from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) explores the experiences of companies that use the two sets of standards together to fulfil their reporting needs.
ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS
ESG funds beat out S&P 500 in 1st year of COVID-19; how 1 fund shot to the top06 April 2021
In the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many large investment funds with environmental, social and governance criteria outperformed the broader market. One fund went from being among the poorest performers to the top of the list following tweaks to its portfolio.
UNICEF: Investing in Child Rights - New Guidance to Help Investors Make the Right Decision12 April 2021
A new tool for investors on how to integrate children’s rights into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analysis – allowing for more comprehensive assessment of child rights as part of the due diligence process in investee companies – has been published by UNICEF. The tool was developed through a series of consultations with investors, asset managers, ESG research providers and organizations with expertise in responsible business.
S&P Global launches Data Solution to Support the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) requirements13 April 2021
S&P Global has announced today the launch of the SFDR Data Solution to support the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The SFDR, which came into application in the European Union on 10th March 2021, has introduced new rules for how financial market participants and financial advisers incorporate and disclose sustainability risks and adverse impact factors.
Morgan Stanley commits additional $750 bln for sustainable finance by 203013 April 2021
Morgan Stanley said that it would deploy an additional $750 billion to support low-carbon solutions by 2030, building on the $250 billion announced for the same initiative earlier in 2018. As part of the commitment, the bank said it would escalate activities such as green-bond financing and financing companies that support clean technology and renewable energy.
Canadian Fed plans $5-billion green bond issue19 April 2020
The federal government is aiming to raise $5 billion for green infrastructure investment when its inaugural green bond hits the market later this year. The government indicated in the 2021 federal budget that it will publish a framework for issuing green bonds in the coming months, in advance of its first green bond launch that’s planned for sometime in fiscal 2021-2022. The initiative was first proposed in the fall economic update last year.
Global State of the Market 2020: Scale and Depth of $1.7tn Green, Social and Sustainability Debt Market23 April 2021
Climate Bonds has released the Sustainable Debt-Global State of the Market report, which assesses the scale and depth of the green, social, and sustainability (GSS) debt markets as of the end of 2020. The report is the tenth iteration in our flagship State of the Market series, encompassing established green markets and the expanding social and sustainability labels.
BlackRock launches two Paris-aligned climate equity ETFs26 April 2021
BlackRock has launched its first Paris-aligned climate change equity ETFs as the firm sees its ESG UCITS ETF range pass $50bn assets under management. The iShares S&P 500 Paris Aligned UCITS ETF and the iShares MSCI World Paris Aligned UCITS ETF are listed on the London Stock Exchange, the two ETFs track the S&P 500 Paris-Aligned Climate Sustainability Screened index and the MSCI World Climate Paris Aligned Benchmark Select index which are linked to the European Union’s Paris Aligned Benchmark.
Sustainable fund inflows hit record high in Q1 - Morningstar30 April 2021
Record demand to invest in sustainable investment funds saw the sector’s total assets rise 19% to a fresh high of nearly $2 trillion in the first quarter, data from industry tracker Morningstar showed.The surge in interest marked the fourth quarter in a row that the sector's assets have hit a record high, amid growing interest from investors for funds focused on environmental, social and governance-related issues.
