This month includes news from LGX, LSEG, Nasdaq, NSE, TASE 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  UN SSE welcomes Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange 08 February 2021 The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) has solidified its commitment to transparency and sustainability by becoming a member of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative. The SSE’s newest member joins a network of now 100 stock exchanges around the world that are committed to promoting sustainable development. Investing in Children’s Rights 05 March 2021 In a recent video produced by UNICEF about investing in children’s rights, the SSE called attention to the strategic position of stock exchanges in influencing the marketplace. 2021 Ring the Bell for Gender Equality Upcoming event: 8 March 2021 In celebration of International Women’s Day, the SSE initiative is pleased to announce the continuation of stock exchanges around the world hosting a bell-ringing ceremony to raise awareness for gender equality. If your exchange would like to hold a Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event this year, please contact the SSE for more information and complete this form so we can give you further details. Romania: Workshop on Enhancing Climate-Related and Environmental Disclosure Upcoming event: 10 March, 10:00-12:00 EET - Register here. Join the Bucharest Stock Exchange, Climate Disclosure Standards Board and the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative for a workshop on how companies can better provide decision-useful information on climate and environmental aspects to the market. Q1 2021 Quarterly Webinar: Gender Equality Upcoming event: 11 March 2021 The UN SSE Consultative Group Quarterly Calls allow Partner Exchanges, regulators, investors, issuers, and other key market stakeholders to share their experiences, hear from guest experts and contribute to the SSE’s work plan. Held quarterly, the SSE webinar is organized twice in one day to accommodate the many time zones of our partners. SSE Regional Webinar Africa: Climate awareness education for asset owners and asset managers Upcoming event: 17 March 2021 This webinar presents an opportunity for African exchanges to get an overview of global and regional trends in ESG integration – including the need for capacity development amongst investors. The principal focus of the session will be on unpacking the PRI’s recently launched African Asset Owner Climate Awareness Course, including reviews of the material and its relevance for African investors. Climate Disclosure Advisory Group Webinar 17 February 2021 The United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative hosted a webinar meeting of the SSE Climate Disclosure Advisory Group to discuss how to support stock exchanges in providing guidance to issuers on climate disclosure. The meeting brought together exchanges, regulators, and investors in order to review the first draft of a model guidance. STOCK EXCHANGE NEWS Luxembourg Green Exchange: A year in review 2020 from a sustainable finance perspective 03 February 2021 2020 - A record year, this growth was clearly reflected at the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), the world’s leading platform for sustainable securities. At the end of 2020, LGX counted close to 900 sustainable securities totalling EUR 388 billion, issued by 150 issuers in more than 30 countries. Warsaw Stock Exchange targets ESG after tech triumphs 16 February 2021 Polish companies have been behind the curve when it comes to sustainability. A reinvigorated Warsaw bourse plans a new drive to bring Polish companies up to speed on sustainability. The Malta Stock Exchange introduces the MSE Green Market 23 February 2021 In support of Malta's and the European Union's (the “EU”) commitments to the promotion of sustainable finance and investments, the Malta Stock Exchange (the “MSE”) announced that the Malta Financial Services Authority (the “MFSA”) has approved the Bye-Laws for the establishment of an MSE Green Market. Thailand’s Stock Exchange (SET) continues 2nd year of project to tackle global warming 24 February 2021 SET jointly with environmental partners, has gained substantial results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 4.27 million kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (Kg.CO2e) for a one-year collective effort under “Care the Whale project: The climate action collaboration @Ratchada District Initiative”. London Stock Exchange (LSEG) joins United Nations Climate Change ‘Race to Zero’ 25 February 2021 LSEG announced that it has become the first global exchange group to commit to net zero through the Business Ambition for 1.5° and thus become a member of the United Nations Climate Change ‘Race to Zero’. Bursa Malaysia: Moving the dial on ESG adoption 25 February 2021 Bursa Malaysia is aiming to bring public listed companies on the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) journey. “Previously when we talked of ESG, it sounded like a nebulous idea. But now it’s real. We see the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index growing. We see sustainable assets outperforming. So now you have a call to action that we need to take forward,” - Datuk Umar Swift, CEO Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network Builds a Framework for a Sustainable Future 26 February 2021 In 2019, Nasdaq launched the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network (NSBN), a global platform that aims to increase transparency and accessibility to green, social and sustainability bonds. The network was a natural expansion of Nasdaq’s existing Sustainable Bonds Market launched in 2015, which lists more than 200 green bonds. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) joins the 30% club to promote gender equality 26 February 2021 NSE (Kenya) has joined the 30% club, a global campaign to take action to increase gender diversity in boards and senior management within the workplace, cementing its commitment to enhancing gender equality in corporate leadership in Kenya. LGX expands to welcome Climate-Aligned Issuers 04 March 2021 Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) announced the latest development of the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX): a brand-new section of LGX dedicated to ClimateAligned Issuers (CAI), built on Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) issuer screening and research. REGULATOR AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS Shift in how European funds report ESG coming in March 10 February 2021 Demand for ESG investment products has rapidly outstripped the development of regulation.With ESG investing now firmly at the top of the agenda, regulators in Europe have been working for some time to standardize its rules. Global regulators back plan for climate risk disclosures body 11 February 2021 Global market regulators have thrown their weight behind plans for a new international standards body for company disclosures on climate risks and sustainability, saying it would cut the scope for so-called greenwashing. CDSB: Aligning cross border initiatives to enhance ESG and responsible investing 15 February 2021 Following the success of the September online event and extending the reach to a wider global audience, CDSB is pleased to partner with Climate Action for the Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2021, a 4-part digital event taking place on the 13th, 15th, 20th and 22nd April. US SEC: Statement on the Review of Climate-Related Disclosure 24 February 2021 Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee is directing the Division of Corporation Finance to enhance its focus on climate-related disclosure in public company filings. The Commission in 2010 provided guidance to public companies regarding existing disclosure requirements as they apply to climate change matters. CDSB: How to account for climate in financial reporting - Part One 25 February 2021 Following the publication of guidance for integrating climate matters into financial reporting, CDSB held a Webinar on how companies, preparers, accountants and finance functions can begin to account for climate under existing accounting standards. ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS S&P Dow Jones Indices Expands Global ESG Suite with Launch of new Indices 03 February 2021 S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI"), the world's leading index provider, announced the debut of the S&P MidCap 400 ESG Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 ESG Index. The new indices' methodologies are consistent with the rest of S&P DJI's Global ESG Index family and are designed to closely replicate the risk and return profile of their underlying benchmarks, while providing a significant boost in ESG score performance. Sustainable bond issuance to hit a record $650 billion in 2021 04 February 2021 Global issuance of green, social and sustainability bonds – or sustainable bonds, collectively – will hit a record of $650 billion in 2021, a 32% increase over the $491 billion issued in 2020, Moody's Investors Service projects in a new report. SIX Launches First ESG Indices for General Swiss Bond and Equity Markets 10 February 2021 SIX launched new ESG indices in the Swiss equity and bond markets. These cover the sustainability criteria of environment, social and governance. In developing its ESG indices, SIX has drawn on data sources including the independent Swiss sustainability rating agency Inrate. S&P Global launches enhanced ESG Scores with additional levels of data 19 February 2021 S&P Global has released two additional levels of ESG information that inform a company’s ESG Scores, providing deeper layers of insights and expanded transparency. An additional 400 data points have been made available for each company, based on their applicability and relevance to informing a company’s overall scoring assessment. IFC More than Doubles Issuance of Social Bonds in 2020 to over $3 Billion, Amid COVID-19 25 February 2021 IFC released its new Social Bond Impact Report, showing cumulative volume raised from the program more than doubled in 2020, bringing the total to over $3 billion since the program's founding. UK to launch first green savings bond to boost climate credentials 28 February 2021 The UK will launch its first sovereign green savings bonds, offering retail investors the chance to buy into projects dedicated to greening the economy, such as renewable energy schemes, in its budget this week. MANAGEMENT NEWS Moody’s ESG Solutions Group Appoints Global Head of ESG Measures 01 February 2021 Moody’s announced that it has appointed Sabine Lochmann as Global Head of Moody’s ESG Measures. In this newly-established role, Ms. Lochmann will lead the ESG measures business within Moody’s ESG Solutions Group, which was formed in September 2020 to serve the growing global demand for ESG and climate analytics. US SEC appoints policy advisor to advance new initiatives on ESG 03 February 2021 The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) tapped Satyam Khanna, a former member of the SEC's Investor Advisory Committee, to serve in a newly created role as senior policy advisor for climate and ESG in the office of Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee. RESEARCH Gender & Climate Investment: A strategy for unlocking a sustainable future 02 February 2021 Gender Smart and partners published in February the `Gender & Climate Investment: A strategy for unlocking a sustainable future` report to help investors expand and reframe their thinking to connect gender and climate in investment decisions.