On March 31, 2021, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) launched the first and only think tank for sustainable finance and energy in Bulgaria, the Green Finance and Energy Centre.
The new Green Centre will concentrate the efforts of multiple stakeholders towards the sustainable development transformation of the national economy and energy sector. BSE intends for the new Green Centre to perform its activities through a broad consensus among representatives of the business, government, academic community, global consulting companies and of the non-governmental sector.
This think tank operates in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy, the Financial Supervision Commission and the Fund of Funds. Participants in the Green Centre are representatives of the highest level from the state, the BSE, the IBEX, business, academia, NGOs and industry organizations and consulting companies. The Centre strives to be a leader in sustainable finance and energy in Bulgarian.
“The green transformation has begun, and we believe that it is appropriate for leading institutions such as BSE and IBEX together with all stakeholders to start the debate, to pursue trends and policies in the economic and social life on the topics of sustainable finance and energy. We are willing to mobilise the entire expert potential of our country. Relying on the best experience of Europe and the world we are convinced that we will by all means contribute to the sustainable development of business in Bulgaria,” said Dr. Manyu Moravenov, Executive Director of BSE.
Anthony Miller, Coordinator of UN SSE initiative, participated in the public launch of the Green Centre and spoke about the role of stock exchanges in contributing to sustainable development. He highlighted significant global trends in stock exchange activities to promote sustainable finance, from providing written guidance for issuers on sustainability reporting to innovating new sustainability themed products and listing segments like those for green bonds. Anthony Miller said: “A stock exchange must harness the collective effort of its entire ecosystem to help with the transition to a more sustainable world. BSE’s new Green Centre is a good example of what exchanges around the world can do to advance sustainable finance and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
The recorded event can be viewed here.
SSE and Green Finance
In alignment with the SSE’s Green Finance Action Plan, the SSE tracks a number of sustainability activities that can help stock exchanges to grow green finance in their market. This includes sustainability bond segments or ESG indices and mainstreaming green through the inclusion of ESG disclosure in listing rules. To know more check the SSE Stock Exchange Database.
