This month includes news from CSE, CTSE, EUREX, Euronext, ICE 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 supports Colombo Stock Exchange’s 3rd annual governance forum 10 August 2022 The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) held its annual governance forum ‘Beyond Basics’ for the third time, titled ‘Beyond Basics: Setting Standards for Climate Disclosure and Action’. The United Nations SSE initiative supported this event by participating in the panel discussion on transparency in climate reporting. The UN SSE initiative welcomes Cape Town Stock Exchange 31 August 2022 CTSE has solidified its commitment to transparency and sustainability by becoming a partner exchange of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative. The SSE’s newest partner joins a network of now 118 stock exchanges around the world that are committed to promoting sustainable development. New SSE TV New Episodes Released! The SSE TV has released new episodes featuring Alex Matturri (Board Member of Cboe), Walt Lukken (CEO & President of FIA Global), 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). 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. These sessions have been delivered in more than 20 markets so far, from New York to Bangladesh and London to South Africa. For more information on past and future training sessions, visit the SSE Academy event page. Contact: climate@sseinitiative.org if you would like to host a training session in your market. This is a NO COST service available for all SSE Partner Exchanges. EXCHANGE NEWS Nasdaq Receives ‘AA’ ESG Rating from MSCI 01 August 2022 Nasdaq received a significant upgrade in its latest ESG Ratings score published in the 2022 MSCI ESG Ratings, jumping from BBB to AA. This places the company in the annual ratings' “Leaders” category alongside peer organizations that show strong management of their most significant ESG risks and opportunities. FTSE Russell: Decarbonising Fixed Income Investment 10 August 2022 This index series by FTSE Russell, a subsidiary of London Stock Exchange Group, helps meet the rising demand for calibrating exposure to fossil fuels in fixed income portfolios and provides a solution for asset owners and asset managers seeking bond benchmarks that help meet the global push toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. EUREX: ESG Equity Index Derivatives Update 11 August 2022 The interest and the number of transactions of ESG-related derivatives that cover a broad spectrum of derivative products such as forwards, futures and swaps, is increasing lately. Eurex provides an update about its numbers of ESG derivatives across Equity Index and Fixed Income total traded volume exceeded 35 EUR billion in 2022, traded contracts in 2022 reached over 1.6 million contracts. BME: The Importance of SMEs in Exchange Infrastructure 15 August 2022 In a recent interview, Jesús González Nieto, Head of BME Growth, talks about the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and how important is the role of BME to help them to raise capital. BME Growth has listed 25 companies in the last 18 months, helping to raise equity of more than EUR 1,4 billion through 126 transactions. CME Group: Climate Markets Update from Carbon Pulse 22 August 2022 This issue by the CME Group, provides an update on the carbon market which highlights EU carbon prices that recently hit a new record as industrial buying of allowances ramped up to keep in line with demand for coal and oil power generation, voluntary carbon prices found support amid strengthening global stock and equities benchmarks, as well as the passing of the U.S. Inflation Reduction. ICE’s Brookly McLaughlin Builds Bridges Between ESG Idealism and ESG Pragmatism 22 August 2022 Brookly McLaughlin, Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), guides ICE’s ESG efforts and its Employee Development, part of ICE’s focus on human capital. Brookly shares how ICE built a strategy to target the top ESG concerns of the company’s stakeholders, and uses its own data and products to convert those goals into action. Euronext launches Business Sustainability Certification Programme 31 August 2022 This certification programme in Business Sustainability is designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge base to navigate the complexity of the “sustainability” paradigm, eco-system and regulatory frameworks and to drive the implementation of sustainable strategies in their organisations. REGULATOR AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS IOSCO welcomes the strong Stakeholder Engagement on Sustainability Disclosures 27 July 2022 At its recent Board meeting, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) welcomed the strong engagement from industry, policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders on proposed standards for corporate reporting on sustainability issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). PRI: Review of trends in ESG reporting Requirements for Investors 03 August 2022 An overview of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements for investors around the world and the trends driving the disclosure. The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is assessing how best to ensure accountability on responsible investment practices globally. To support this work, PRI has carried out a review of the global ESG reporting landscape for investors and the major trends driving the reporting. GRI/UN Global Compact aim to advance corporate SDGs reporting with Latest Report 09 August 2022 The latest report by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the UN Global Compact aims to improve and accelerate the way businesses report on progress made towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ICGN: EFRAG Draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) 10 August 2022 The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) welcomes the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) public consultation on Draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). IMF: Public Sector Must Play Major Role in Catalyzing Private Climate Finance 18 August 2022 Climate change is one of the most critical macroeconomic and financial policy challenges that IMF members face in coming decades. The recent spikes in the cost of fuel and food—and the resulting risks of social unrest—underline the importance of investing in green energy and boosting resilience to shocks, this is discussed in this new article by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Morningstar: 5 Key Steps for Documenting Your ESG-Readiness 22 August 2022 For companies looking to make an initial public offering (IPO), a comprehensive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy has become an important business investment. Facing the demand from regulators and investors alike, an effective ESG strategy can make a difference to pre-IPO fundraising, the valuation of your company, how you build credibility and trust in the market, and the overall success of your IPO. PRI: Proposals for a just Transition Disclosure Framework in China 23 August 2022 To integrate just transition concerns into decision-making, investors need relevant information from companies. This report by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) proposes a framework for companies in China to disclose their strategies, actions and policy advocacy related to a socially just low-carbon transition. WEF: Carbon Neutral and Net Zero - what do they mean? 23 August 2022 This article by WEF investigates the remaining meaningful tools in the fight against climate change - and considers whether new words are needed to help us in our efforts to save the planet. IMF: Achieving Net-Zero Emissions Requires Closing a Data Deficit 23 August 2022 In a new report from the Network for Greening the Financial System features a directory that evaluates available climate data, identifies gaps, and offers practical, concrete ways to close those gaps. The report, a product of a working group co-chaired by the IMF and the European Central Bank, strengthens what it calls climate information architecture. Securities Commission Malaysia Updates at the 8th Joint Committee on Climate Change 29 August 2022 The Securities Commission Malaysia provides an update about the priorities set on climate change and supports a greater awareness and efforts by financial institutions to strengthen their response to climate risk, this has led to an increased demand for practical tools and urgency to address key gaps needed to support transition. ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS JPXI Launches One-Stop Platform for Listed Company ESG Disclosure 10 August 2022 JPX Market Innovation & Research (JPXI) collaborates to establish "JPX Listed Company ESG Information WEB," a new portal which collects links to ESG-related information disclosed by Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)-listed companies, the new portal is scheduled to launch around fall 2022. FTSE Russell launches New Sustainable Investment Benchmarks For Bonds 12 August 2022 Index provider FTSE Russell, a subsidiary of London Stock Exchange Group, has launched a set of three new benchmarks for sustainable bond investments to cater to rising demand for environmental, social and governance investing. IFC: Launch of First-of-its-Kind Investment Platform to Issue Tokenized Carbon Credits 17 August 2022 The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Cultivo, Aspiration, and Chia Network, has announced the launch of the Carbon Opportunities Fund, a global investment platform that will raise private capital for an innovative model to source, tokenize and sell high-quality, verified carbon credits. Grupo BMV welcomes US$200 million in Social Bond of FONACOT 23 August 2022 Grupo Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV): FONACOT has recently issued a social bond in the debt market for approximately US$200 million, aimed at promoting formal financing for the country’s workers, with an emphasis on women in the southeastern region. HKEX: Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF started trading 24 August 2022 Mirae Asset Global Investments has launched a new ETF in Hong Kong under its Global X brand, providing exposure to green bonds from issuers located in Asia excluding Japan. The Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX) in dollars and in Chinese renminbi. BIVA: Vasconia Group debuts in the Sustainable Bond Market 25 August 2022 Mexico’s Bolsa Institucional de Valores (Biva) welcomes Grupo Vasconia’s first green bond. The group is dedicated to the production and marketing of aluminum and household items, debuts in the sustainable bond market. LuxSE: EIB brings USD 4 bn Sustainability Awareness Bond 30 August 2022 The European Investment Bank (EIB) brings USD 4 bn Sustainability Awareness Bond (SAB) to LuxSE. The proceeds will be used to finance the institution's lending to activities contributing to sustainability objectives. GENDER EQUALITY SIX: Women Belong in IT, Right Where They’ve Always Been 17 August 2022 Women are sorely underrepresented in the field of computer science. Discover in on SIX blog post how this wasn’t always the case and doesn’t have to be. Three women in IT at SIX tell their stories. B3 proposes Quota Requirement on Companies for Women, Blacks and LGBT 17 August 2022 Proposal presented by B3, the Brazilian Stock Exchange, a quota requirement for listed companies to include in their board of directors or statutory directors at least one woman and a representative of a minority group.