February News Highlights

February News Highlights

8 March 2024

This month includes news from the Amman Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, BME, IDX 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 materials used to train Bangladesh regulatory authority on ISSB Standards 28 February 2024 Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of Bangladesh, introduced in 2023 sustainability disclosure requirements based on the ISSB standards, that will be mandatory for the banks and financial institutions it regulates.  2024 Ring the Bell for Gender Equality 8 March 2024 In celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March 2024), the Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative is pleased to announce the continuation of stock exchanges around the world hosting a bell-ringing ceremony to raise awareness for gender equality. The SSE is working alongside the UN Global Compact, UN Women, International Finance Corporation: IFC and World Federation of Exchanges (the “Global Partners”) for the 10th consecutive year to organise the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative. SSE ACADEMY WORKSHOPS The following SSE Academy workshops took place since our last newsletter. SSE Academy workshops are hosted by SSE Partner Exchanges and invitations are managed directly by the exchange. To participate in any of these free-of-cost training opportunities, please contact the exchange directly. For upcoming workshops, visit www.SSEinitiative.org/sse-academy/  BME training on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards 29 February 2024 The Spanish Stock Exchange, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles, hosted the SSE Academy and its partners the IFRS Foundation and the World Bank’s IFC to train its market on the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The training workshop was attended by 43 participants. ZSE training on Gender Equality and Capital Markets 26 February 2024 The Zagreb Stock Exchange hosted the SSE Academy and its partners UN Women and the World Bank’s IFC to train its market on gender equality and global markets. Guest speakers from LuxSE, Bloomberg and Edge also presented practical insights in this workshop. The training workshop was attended by 38 participants. EXCHANGE NEWS China: Shanghai Stock Exchange Solicits Public Opinions on Guidelines No. 14 Of Shanghai Stock Exchange For Self-Regulation Of Listed Companies—Sustainability Report (Trial) (Draft For Comments) 8 February 2024 Recently, under the unified deployment of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) has devised and finalized Guidelines No. 14 of Shanghai Stock Exchange for Self-Regulation of Listed Companies—Sustainability Report (Trial) (Draft for Comments). The document has then been made public for market consultation.  Bursa Malaysia, IDX, SET, And SGX Group Collaborate To Develop An ASEAN Interconnected Sustainability Ecosystem (ASEAN-ISE) 15 February 2024 Bursa Malaysia Berhad (Bursa Malaysia), Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), and Singapore Exchange (SGX Group), collectively referred to as Participating Exchanges in this context, have announced a collaboration on the ASEAN-Interconnected Sustainability Ecosystem (ASEAN-ISE), to advance ASEAN’s sustainable development through the implementation of common ESG metrics in their respective data infrastructures. SET Sustainability Forum 2024 Calls On All Thai Capital Market Stakeholders To Reflect On Governance Practices For Strengthening Trust In The Global Market 15 February 2024 The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and SET ESG Academy, together with capital market executives locally and abroad today organized “SET Sustainability Forum 1/2024: Grounding Greater Governance for Good”. The forum is aimed at emphasizing the significance of robust corporate governance as the cornerstone for sustainable business development and investment.  The discussions centered around the crucial aspects of reliable quality environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) data, as well as its application in driving impactful business and investment decisions both locally and globally. Thailand: SET And Partners Jointly Organize "Green Economy: Next Growth And Survive" Event, Driving Private Sector Towards Sustainable Environmental Management 22 February 2024 The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), on the occasion of turning 50 years in operations, in collaboration with Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and The Gold Standard Foundation, today organized the “Green Economy: Next Growth and Survive” event.  REGULATORS AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS The Dubai Financial Services Authority Issues Its First ESG Fee Waiver To Emirates NBD Bank PJSC 5 February 2024 Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, one of the largest banking groups in the Middle East, has become the first financial institution to benefit from a fee waiver launched by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) NGX RegCO, IFRS Foundation, And FRC Nigeria Pledge Unified Commitment To Sustainability Reporting 7 February 2024 In a significant stride towards fortifying investor protection in the Nigerian capital market, NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the IFRS Foundation, and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) have jointly reaffirmed their dedication to spearheading sustainability reporting initiatives among listed companies. Advisory Committee On Sustainability Reporting Invites Public Feedback On Proposed Use Of ISSB Standards In Malaysia 15 February 2024 The Advisory Committee on Sustainability Reporting (ACSR)  published a consultation paper to seek public feedback on the proposed use of the sustainability disclosure standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB Standards). The ISSB Standards serve as a baseline standard which will constitute the National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF) in Malaysia. Türkyie: Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (KGK in Turkish) has been authorized to publish sustainable reporting standards by Turkish Commercial Code 19 February 2024 In parallel with ISSB’s IFRS S1 and S2, the KGK published Turkish Sustainability Reporting Standards (TSRS) S1 General Provisions for Disclosure of Sustainability-Related Financial Information and S2 Disclosure on Climate in late 2023. The reporting will be compulsory starting on January 1, 2024 for those companies specified in the relevant KGK decision (including but not limited to banks).  Singapore & Malaysia: ASEAN Taxonomy Version 2 Made Effective Following Stakeholder Consultation Feedback 20 February 2024 The ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB) is pleased to announce the updated iteration of ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (ASEAN Taxonomy) Version 2, taking into account feedback and suggestions received from the targeted stakeholder consultation concluded and announced in November 2023. New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculation And Estimation Tools To Support Sustainability Reporting: Hong Kong Green And Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group 21 February 2024 The Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today launched two greenhouse gas emissions calculation and estimation tools (GHG emissions tools) to facilitate sustainability reporting by corporates and financial institutions in Hong Kong (Note 1). Hong Kong Cross-Agency Steering Group Launches Revamped Website For Sustainable Finance 21 February 2024 The Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) has revamped its official website (CASG website) with enhanced database and tools to offer a one-stop green and sustainable finance information hub for financial institutions, corporates and the general public.   UAE Securities And Commodities Authority Launches The 2024 Award For Innovation In Capital Markets In Conjunction With The UAE Innovation Month 23 February 2024 The award aims to encourage companies operating in the financial sector to come up with innovative solutions that embed sustainability principles, address economic challenges, and seek to achieve future strategic objectives by fostering innovative practices and economic sustainability in the UAE. Singapore Accounting And Corporate Regulatory Authority And Singapore Exchange Regulation: Climate Reporting To Help Companies Ride The Green Transition - All Listed Issuers To Report From FY2025 And Large Non-Listed Companies From FY2027 28 February 2024 The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) have provided details of mandatory climate reporting for listed issuers and large non-listed companies. As announced by Second Minister for Finance, Mr Chee Hong Tat at the Ministry of Finance Committee of Supply, Singapore will introduce mandatory climate-related disclosures (CRD) in a phased approach, in line with the recommendations from the Sustainability Reporting Advisory Committee (SRAC) [1]. Japan Financial Services Agency: Summary Of The Result Of The International Roundtable On Understanding Credibility Of Transition Plan 29 February 2024 Recognizing global momentum of financial institutions developing their transition plans towards net-zero or low carbon society, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) held a virtual roundtable, “International Roundtable on Understanding Credibility of Transition Plan” on November 6 and 10, 2023. The roundtable intended to promote financial supervisors’ better understanding on the way  to prevent greenwashing and the relationship between transition planning/plans and risks and opportunities of financial institutions. ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS Jordan: Amman Stock Exchange to launch sustainability index by 2025: CEO 1 February 2024 Amman Stock Exchange is set to introduce its sustainability index by 2025, following an expected integration with the Abu Dhabi bourse, according to a top official.  In an interview with CNBC Arabia, Mazen Wathaifi, CEO of the Jordan-based institution, announced the expected signing of an agreement with ADX, to join the “Tabadul” platform. He also anticipated the launch of the sustainability index in 2024 or early 2025. Japan Issues $11bn Climate Transition Bond, Certified Under The Climate Bonds Standard - World First: Supports Japan's Ambitious Emission Reduction Goals 8 February 2024 Japan issues the first tranche of its JPY1.6tn (USD11bn) Climate Transition Bond, with proceeds being used to fund Japan’s ambitious Green Transformation (GX) programme.The GX Plan underscores Japan's commitment to its 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, and to its vision for carbon neutrality by 2050. The Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX) now counts EUR 1 trillion worth of green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds 16 February 2024 Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s platform for sustainable finance, has surpassed the EUR 1 trillion mark in listed sustainable securities. LGX, launched in 2016, serves as a platform for sustainable securities, providing issuers with a space to list green, social, and sustainability bonds.  Spain: BME Admits A 600 Million Euro Sustainable Bond Issue By The Basque Government To Trading 19 February 2024 BME, through the Bilbao Stock Exchange, has today admitted to trading a €600 million sustainable issue by the Basque Government, maturing in April 2034. The bonds, which have a nominal value of 1,000 euros, carry an annual nominal interest rate of 3.40%. The issue has been oversubscribed by almost seven times the amount placed. Switzerland: SIX Launches New SME Sustainability Assessment Solution Powered By Greenomy 22 February 2024 SIX, the global financial information provider, has today launched a new solution enabling the global banking clients of SIX to measure the sustainability performance of their small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients, and to assess climate and sustainability risk trajectories linked to their loan books. This product launch is following the company’s partnership with leading Brussels-based ESG assessment and reporting specialist Greenomy in December. GENDER EQUALITY United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: LSEG Launches Global Parental Leave 20 February 2024 LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) today announces a significant enhancement to its parental leave offering, creating a single global benchmark of 26 weeks' paid leave to support colleagues at key life moments and reinforcing its commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

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.