April News Highlights

April News Highlights

4 May 2023

This month includes news from Boursa Kuwait, Bursa Malaysia, B3, Colombo Stock Exchange 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  Exchange in Focus: RepRisk interviews Cesar Sanches, Head of Sustainability at B3 18 April 2023 In April 2023, Cesar Sanches, Head of Sustainability at B3 was interviewed by RepRisk. The talking points were Cesar Sanches’ work at B3, the role of RepRisk in the new methodology of the B3 Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE B3), and B3’s position in the Latin American Market in the sustainable field. EXCHANGE NEWS Bursa Carbon Exchange Joins Global Emissions Trading Network Via IETA 6 April 2023 Bursa Malaysia Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia” or the “Exchange”) today announced its membership of the International Emissions Trading Association (“IETA”), a thought leader in carbon market mechanisms. This move is in line with the Exchange's commitment to develop Malaysia’s carbon market through its voluntary carbon market (“VCM”) - the Bursa Carbon Exchange (“BCX”) - and to strengthen institutional capacity in developing a vibrant VCM ecosystem. LuxSE Named Exchange Of The Year 2023 By Environmental Finance 6 April 2023 As part of Environmental Finance’s Bond Awards 2023, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) took home the title of ‘Exchange of the Year’ for the sixth time since 2017. Bursa Malaysia And Petronas Sign Memorandum Of Collaboration - Reinforces The Centralised Sustainability Intelligence Platform Built In Collaboration With LSEG 12 April 2023 Bursa Malaysia (“Exchange”) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (“MOC”) with PETRONAS to help drive environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) adoption and practices through Bursa Malaysia’s Centralised Sustainability Intelligence Platform (“Platform”). HKEX: Exchange Publishes Consultation Paper On Enhancement Of Climate Disclosure Under Its ESG Framework 14 April 2023 The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), today (Friday) published a consultation paper seeking market feedback on proposals to enhance climate-related disclosures under the environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework. Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Continues To Advance ESG - Launches The First Dedicated ESG English Questionnaire, In Line With International Standards, Designed To Enable TASE-Listed Companies That Have Not Yet Published An ESG Report 17 April 2023 TASE published today its first ESG questionnaire for the TASE-listed companies as a means to increasing their ESG involvement and allowing investors better access to ESG-related information, in line with international standards. Boursa Kuwait sheds light on its ESG commitments and achievements in second Sustainability Report 18 April 2023 Boursa Kuwait published its second standalone Sustainability Report, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and their adoption in its operations and the wider Kuwaiti capital market. New Zealand Exchange Announces Changes to Climate/ESG-Related Governance Requirements 18 April 2023 Effective April 1, 2023, the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) has updated the NZX Corporate Governance Code (Code) and the NZX ESG Guidance Note (ESG Note). There are eight principles that underlie the Code: (1) ethical standards; (2) board composition and performance; (3) board committees; (4) reporting and disclosure; (5) remuneration; (6) risk management; (7) auditors; and (8) shareholder rights and relations. LSEG features in Europe’s Climate Leader List 2023 20 April 2023 For the continent’s carbon emitters, the heat is on — but some are doing better than others in reducing their footprint CSE enables issue of Green Bonds by Sri Lankan Companies  25 April 2023 The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is pleased to announce the introduction of listing and trading of Green Bonds for the first time in the Sri Lankan stock market, with effect from 25th April 2023.  NGX, ETI mull partnership on sustainability, market development 25 April 2023 Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) have expressed mutual interest in partnering on sustainability initiatives and overall market development. NGX Group Becomes First Exchange Group Globally To Achieve EDGE Certification 26 April 2023 Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the EDGE certification, making it the first exchange group globally and the first indigenous Nigerian organization to be EDGE certified. Study Panel on the Use of Digital Bonds in ESG Investing concludes discussions, publishes report 27 April 2023 JPX Market Innovation & Research, Inc. (“JPXI”) partnered with Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. (“Nomura”) to form the Study Panel on the Use of Digital Bonds in ESG Investing on September 28, 2022 (organizer: JPXI; administration: Nomura), bringing together issuers and investors with green bond experience, as well as securities firms, banks and trust banks, ESG rating agencies, system vendors, and public-sector organizations. REGULATORS AND STANDARDS SETTER NEWS Switzerland: New BIS report on Macroprudential policies for addressing climate-related financial risks 4 April 2023 Macroprudential policies aim to maintain financial stability by increasing the resilience of the financial system (together with the macroprudential framework) and containing the accumulation of systemic risks. IOSCO Commits To Deliver On Sustainability Disclosures And Crypto Exchanges In 2023. Publishes Work Program For 2023-2024 5 April 2023 The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published the 2023-2024 Work Program to further its core objectives of protecting investors, maintaining fair, efficient and transparent markets, and addressing systemic risks. ISSB to focus on climate disclosures in first reporting year 6 April 2023 Reporting group adds new relief measures for companies. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has decided to prioritize climate-related information in its first reporting year, part of a series of measures designed to ease the burden on companies from the new disclosures. Malaysia: Energy Firms to be Engaged Over Readiness Under ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Financing 6 April 2023 Following the release of Version 2 of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainability Financing (Version 2) last week, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) will facilitate regional efforts being made by the ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB) to conduct targeted stakeholder consultations. IIGCC publishes Net Zero Standard for Oil & Gas 18 April 2023 IIGCC has published a Net Zero Standard for Oil & Gas, a new framework for investors to assess alignment of oil and gas companies’ transition plans with a 1.5oC climate scenario. Financial Stability Board: Climate-related Financial Risk Factors in Compensation Frameworks 20 April 2023 Climate-related metrics are often part of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors that are increasingly used by financial institutions as part of performance measurement to determine variable compensation. Singapore: MAS Launches Finance for Net Zero Action Plan 20 April 2023 Mr Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Deputy Chairman, today announced the launch of MAS’ Finance for Net Zero (FiNZ) Action Plan at the opening of the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute of the National University of Singapore. United Kingdom: Risks and opportunities from green mortgages highlighted by FCA boss 20 April 2023 Green mortgages can play an increasingly significant role in helping borrowers reduce emissions from their homes, according to the FCA’s David Geale. Japan Financial Services Agency: Summary Of Results Of The International Conference On Sustainability Disclosure 21 April 2023 Capital markets are giving more attention than ever to sustainability information vis-a-vis value creation of the entity. Responding to such needs, tremendous efforts have been made towards developing sustainability disclosure standards by various standard setters and jurisdictions around the world. Singapore and China Establish Green Finance Taskforce to Strengthen Collaboration in Green and Transition Finance 21 April 2023 The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the People’s Bank of China (PBC) today announced the establishment of the China-Singapore Green Finance Taskforce (GFTF).  IOSCO welcomes the initiative by the IAASB to seek early engagement and broad inputs in the consultation on the new international sustainability assurance standard 25 April 2023 The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) welcomes the decision by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) to bring forward the start of the consultation on its proposed new standard for sustainability assurance, as part of its plan to deliver an assurance framework for end-2024 sustainability disclosures by market issuers. ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS LuxSe welcomes a new USD 10m gender-focused bond from Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Bonds S.A. (MSME S.A.) 27 April 2023 Through this issuance, MSME S.A. has entered into a loan facility agreement with the leading Mongolian bank Khan Bank, which will partially use the proceeds to create jobs in female-owned or -managed SMEs. GENDER EQUALITY United States of America: SEC’s OMWI FY 2022 Annual Report Highlights The Agency’s Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Initiatives And Progress 4 April 2023 The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) today released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Annual Report to Congress. NGX, WARIF Partner On Gender-Based Violence, Educate Community Women 11 April 2023 Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and Women at Risk Foundation (WARIF) partnered on the an outreach to women in Lagos to educate them on gender-based violence (GBV) with respect to domestic situations. NGX welcomes a delegation from 100 Women in Finance on April 27 27 April 2023 On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Nigerian Exchange Limited will welcome a delegation from 100 Women in Finance, led by the CEO, Amanda Pullinger, for a closing gong ceremony, as they mark the launch of 100 Women in Finance in Nigeria. Japan's Kishida says women should fill 30% of top company posts 28 April 2023 Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's top-tier Prime market should fill at least 30% of executive positions with women, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, urging Japan Inc. to take more aggressive action toward gender equality.

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​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.