(3 June 2019) The Japan Exchange Group published a Japanese translation of the SSE Model Guidance on Reporting ESG Information to Investors and encouraged listed companies to make use of this resource. The Japan Exchange Group is a member of the SSE initiative since 2017, and the Japan Corporate Governance Code stipulates that listed companies should consider taking positive and proactive measures to address sustainability issues.

In September 2015 when the SSE launched its Model Guidance for exchanges, less than one third of stock exchanges around the world were providing guidance on reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) information for their market. This gap in guidance on ESG reporting leads to incomplete corporate information, creating a challenge for investors seeking a comprehensive view of a company’s material issues. The purpose of the Model Guidance compiled by the SSE is to help exchanges address this need by providing a model, or template, that exchanges can use to develop their own, custom guidance.

There are now 44 stock exchanges that are providing guidance on ESG disclosure for their issuers. Click here for more info.