April News Highlights

6 May 2022

This month includes news from BSE, ICE, LuxSE, NGX, NYSE and more. Monthly news highlights are compiled by the SSE to give an overview of the capital markets' sustainability news from that month. You can subscribe to our monthly news highlights by clicking here. SSE INITIATIVE NEWS & EVENTS  SSE addresses high-level “Accelerate Green” conference in Bulgaria 20 April 2022 The Green Finance & Energy Centre, Bulgaria’s first green think-tank co-organised a high-level forum on policies and practices to stimulate green investment in business together with the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance. The Deputy Coordinator of the UN SSE shared with more than 300 representatives of the private and public sectors insights into global ESG disclosure practices. UN SSE welcomes PNGX Markets, the Papua New Guinea National Stock Exchange 25 April 2022 The UN Sustainable Stock Exchange initiative welcomes PNGX Markets, the Papua New Guinea National Stock Exchange as a new member. The newest partner joins a network of now 114 stock exchanges around the world that are committed to promoting sustainable development. UN SSE addresses IFC’s SBFN Global Meeting 29 April 2022 The UN SSE has participated in the 7th Global Meeting of the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), addressing the importance of working together to support emerging markets in translating sustainable finance policies into investments in green and inclusive projects. New SSE TV New Episodes Released! The SSE TV has released new episodes featuring Carole Laible (CEO of Domini Impact Investments), Samuel Ho Hock Guan (CEO of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad), Luc Fortin (CEO & President, Montreal Exchange & Global Head of Trading at TMX Group), Hiromi Yamaji (President & CEO of Tokyo Stock Exchange & Representative Executive Officer, Group COO of Japan Exchange Group). SSE upcoming events: UN SSE, CDP & IFC To Provide Free Climate Disclosure Training To Exchanges And Their Issuers In order to provide markets with high-quality training on climate disclosure and provide an overview of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, the UN SSE together with IFC and CDP, have created a multifaceted CPD accredited course for exchanges to distribute to their markets, free of charge. Information on past training sessions and upcoming sessions can be found on SSE’s Events page, Contact: climate@sseinitiative.org if you would like to host a training session in your market (available for SSE Partner Exchanges).  EXCHANGE NEWS Bursa Malaysia participates in ESG Awareness Session 05 April 2022 Bursa Malaysia joined, as a guest speaker,  the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in a virtual ESG Awareness Session that provided insights into the current global perspective of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices as well as where Malaysia stands within ASEAN countries. ICE Offers ESG Data on Over 1.5 Million Mortgage-Backed Securities 07 April 2022 The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced the launch of ESG data coverage on more than 1.5 million mortgage-backed securities, increasing its total fixed income coverage to over 3 million instruments. NGX fostering Sustainable Financial Products Associated With Climate Change 07 April 2022 With sustainable finance gaining momentum globally, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) is committed to enhancing its role in facilitating the financing of a sustainable future. Being a member of the UN SSE since 2013, NGX has a long-standing commitment to fostering the growth of sustainable finance in Nigeria. ICE New Partnership to Amplified Focus on Sustainability and Diversity 12 April 2022 The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has announced a partnership with McLaren Racing MX Extreme E Team, which races in a new all-electric series featuring male and female drivers behind the wheel. The partnership aims to focus attention on sustainability and diversity in sports around the globe. ICE Launches Data Solution for EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation 14 April 2022 The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is launching the ICE’s SFDR PAI Solution to aid clients’ efforts to meet their obligations under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. ICE’s data solution offers users event-triggered updates for all of the mandatory adverse sustainability indicators applicable to investments in companies, sovereigns, and supranationals. Boursa Kuwait publishes First Annual Sustainability Report 20 April 2022 Boursa Kuwait published its first annual Sustainability Report, detailing the company’s strategy, partnerships, and initiatives in the field of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and implementation for the year 2021.  NSE IFSC is Launching India's first International Sustainability Platform 22 April 2022 The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), through its international subsidiary, is launching an International Sustainability platform that will facilitate the listing and trading of a variety of sustainability products including green bonds, carbon-related products, green REITs, and will channel the flow of sustainable finance to India and other markets.  NGX Regulation CEO calls Market Stakeholders on Climate-related Financial Disclosure 22 April 2022 NGX Regulation has urged all market stakeholders to come up to speed with recent trends in climate disclosure by paying closer attention to climate-related financial risks and opportunities in their business operations in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. REGULATOR AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS Delloite: ESG executive survey Preparing for High-Quality Disclosures 31 March 2022 In a recent report published by Delloite with the aim of helping business leaders prepare for potential changes. ESG executives answered how prepared are companies for the changing ESG landscape. The results show how companies are working toward reliable data, better technology, and additional resources to meet the growing need for high-quality ESG reporting generated through an effective governance structure. Bank of England: Balancing on the Net-Zero Tightrope 07 April 2022 The Executive Director for International Banks Supervision, Sarah Breeden, talks about the economy's transition to net-zero, and the role central banks can play to support it. She says that while governments must lead the transition, central banks can explain how the different paths we take to net-zero might impact the economy and the financial system. UN PRI: Climate Action 100+ shows an Increase in Company Net Zero Commitments 08 April 2022 The second round of Net Zero Company Benchmark assessments shows some corporate climate progress against key climate indicators, but find much more action is urgently needed from focus companies to support global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. FTSE Russell: Getting ahead of the SEC on Climate Risk and Opportunity 14 April 2022 The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made its move on climate risk disclosure. With the launch last month of a consultation on standardizing climate-related disclosures by public companies, the US market regulator has set a train in process that will make it easier for investors to understand the risks and opportunities posed by the transition away from fossil fuels. The UN PRI launched its First Series of Case Studies on ESG incorporation in Venture Capital 14 April 2022 There is a lack of formal, standardized ESG incorporation across the industry, although interest is growing and collaborative work between venture capital firms is underway. To support this, the UN PRI has worked with investment managers and asset owner signatories to develop a case study series on ESG incorporation in venture capital, addressing themes ranging from DEI to climate change. WEF: Private Equity Investors Looking To Progress On Sustainability 20 April 2022 While there is no one-size-fits-all playbook, drawing from these interview insights, the World Economic Forum has identified five priorities for private equity investors looking to take a step forward toward their sustainable investing aspirations.  World Bank: How Can We Scale Up The Finance Needed For Climate Action 21 April 2022 The World Bank identifies the investments and interventions that are key to successful and cost-effective climate action but may need some additional support, especially in low-income countries, acknowledging that putting in place the right policy and regulatory environment will be critical to maximizing the GPG impact of the concessional resources.  FSB consultation on Supervisory And Regulatory Approaches To Climate-Related Risks 29 April 2022 The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published a report that aims to assist supervisory and regulatory authorities in developing their approaches to monitor, manage and mitigate cross-sectoral and system-wide risks arising from climate change and to promote consistent approaches across sectors and jurisdictions. EBA launches Discussion On The Role Of Environmental Risks 02 May 2022 The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published a Discussion Paper on the role of environmental risks in the prudential framework for credit institutions and investment firms. The paper explores whether and how environmental risks are to be incorporated into the Pillar 1 prudential framework. The consultation runs until 2 August 2022. ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS BME admits new EUR 1 Billion Sustainable Bond from the Madrid Government 11 April 2022 Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) admitted a new EUR 1 billion sustainable bond public issued by the Madrid regional government, this is the sixth issuance of this kind launched by the city administration. With this issuance, the outstanding balance of ESG issues registered in BME's Fixed Income markets amounts to 98.4 billion euros. The EU Commission brings its 2nd Green Bond to LGX 20 April 2022 The European Commission brought its 2nd green bond, the largest one issued in 2022 to date, to the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX). The EUR 6 billion proceeds will boost Europe’s green transformation by financing sustainable investments in Member States’ Recovery & Resilience Plans.  CBI: Sustainable Debt Topped $1Trillion in 2021 21 April 2022 The first annual USD trillion in green issuance could arrive as early as this year. This is according to the latest flagship Annual Sustainable Debt Global State of the Market Report released by Climate Bonds Initiative, drawing on the latest data from Climate Bonds’ Market Intelligence. CME Group’s Voluntary Carbon Emissions Offset Contracts Surpass 100 Million Offsets Traded 29 April 2022 CME Group has announced that the combined volume across CME Group’s voluntary carbon emissions offset contracts has surpassed 100,000 contracts traded, equivalent to 100 million carbon offset credits, or 100 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.  GENDER EQUALITY Bloomberg’s A Fair Share appoints Noelle Al-Jaweini as first Saudi Advisory Board Member 31 March 2022 Bloomberg announced that Noelle Al-Jaweini, Chief of Cash Markets at Saudi Exchange has been appointed as an advisory board member to Bloomberg’s A Fair Share, an initiative that advocates for gender equality in the Gulf’s financial industry by engaging with a wide variety of market participants and stakeholders. UN Global Compact: Target Gender Equality Ongoing Target Gender Equality is a gender equality accelerator programme for participating companies of the UN Global Compact. Through facilitated performance analysis, capacity building workshops, peer-to-peer learning and multi-stakeholder dialogue at the country-level, Target Gender Equality will support companies engaged with the UN Global Compact in setting and reaching ambitious corporate targets for women’s representation and leadership. Be at the forefront of this changing landscape by joining this year's Target Gender Equality Accelerator programme.  

About the SSE

​The SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE’s mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services.