This month includes news from ASX, Boursa Kuwait, Bursa Malaysia, Colombo Stock Exchange, 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 joins LSEG, IFRS to celebrate first year of International Sustainability Standards Board
4 July 2024
(24 June 2024) The United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE) initiative joined the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the IFRS Foundation and leaders in sustainability-related disclosures to celebrate the first year of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

UN SSE Focus Group on Gender Equality Metrics
24 July 2024
On July 24, 2024, the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, in collaboration with its partner the International Finance Corporation (IFC) hosted a roundtable focus group on gender equality metrics. The online event brought together a diverse panel of experts from standard-setting bodies, security market regulators, data providers, international organisations, exchanges, and civil society organizations.

Launch webinar: SSE Advisory Group on Transition Plans
25 July 2024
As we collectively work towards addressing the global climate crisis, it's imperative to ensure that our economic systems are aligned with the objective of achieving net zero emissions. Transition plans play a pivotal role in helping businesses move towards a net zero future. This webinar is the kick off meeting of the UN SSE Advisory Group on Transition Plans.

Launch webinar: SSE Advisory Group on SMEs and Sustainability
30 July 2024
SMEs and mid-sized growth companies in particular represent a significant portion of businesses worldwide. As such, their relevance for environmental, social, and economic sustainability is substantial. However, these firms often face unique capacity challenges in responding to sustainability rules and market practices due to limited resources and expertise.

UPCOMING SSE ACADEMY WORKSHOPS

The following SSE Academy workshops are coming soon! SSE Academy workshops are hosted by SSE Partner Exchanges and invitations are managed directly by the exchange. If you wish to register, please visit the event page. For all upcoming workshops, visit SSEinitiative.org/sse-academy/ 

• South Africa - JSE and SAICA workshop on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
• Ghana - GSE workshop on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
• China - HKEX workshop on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
• Euronext workshop on Gender Equality and Capital Markets
• China - IFRS可持续披露准则培训（普通话）
• UNEP-FI members workshop on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards for Banks
• Kuwait - Boursa Kuwait workshop on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards

EXCHANGE NEWS

UAE: Adnoc ‘on track’ to meet 2030 sustainability targets, senior executive says
1 July 2024
Intercontinental Exchange, operator of the New York Stock Exchange, could do 'something impactful' in the Middle East's carbon markets

China: Sustainability a key goal for firms listed on Shanghai bourse
7 July 2024
Companies trading at the Shanghai Stock Exchange have been attaching greater importance to sustainable development, proven by the fact that more than half of the listed companies disclosed social responsibility reports or reports on environment, social and governance last year, according to a report released by the Shanghai bourse on Tuesday.

Green Impact Exchange Files With S.E.C. to Become the First Green Securities Exchange in the U.S.
17 July 2024
The Green Impact Exchange (GIX) announced today that it has filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking approval as the first stock market in the U.S. dedicated to the emerging $50+ trillion global green economy.

ASEAN exchanges push for sustainability progress
22 July 2024
Executives at ASEAN exchanges have agreed on four proof-of-concepts to follow over the next three years, continuing their sustainability initiatives.

Boursa Kuwait continues to reap rewards and recognition
22 July 2024
Boursa Kuwait continued its impressive record of awards and recognition for its exceptional achievements in corporate sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) implementation and reporting, receiving six awards from several prestigious international publications. 

REGULATOR AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS

IFC and IFRS team up to boost sustainability reporting in developing countries
3 July 2024
The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at boosting sustainability and climate reporting in developing countries.  

USA: SEC launches new digital platforms in push for sustainability, improved tax administration
19 July 2024
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is launching five new digital  services that will make company registration more efficient and promote data  sharing for enhanced tax administration. 

EFRAG Releases Study on Early Implementation of ESRS: Insights from Selected EU Companies for Q2 2024
25 July 2024
EFRAG is pleased to issue today its Study: ‘State of play as of Q2 2024 | Implementation of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS): Initial Practices from Selected Companies'.

GRI and TNFD make reporting on biodiversity easier
30 July 2024
GRI and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) have today published a joint interoperability mapping resource that gives a detailed overview of alignment between the TNFD Disclosure Recommendations and metrics and the GRI Standards.

Joint Statement By Bank Negara Malaysia And Securities Commission Malaysia Updates From The 13th Joint Committee On Climate Change (JC3) Meeting
30 July 2024
The Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) held its thirteenth meeting on 23 July 2024 to discuss progress of JC3 initiatives and strategies.

ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS

Sri Lanka: CSE in discussion with issuers for sustainable bonds
7 July 2024
The sustainable bond market, now with blue and green bonds, can help Sri Lankan state-owned enterprises with liquidity issues in the long term, officials said.Now that the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has facilitated sustainable bonds, state-owned enterprises with liquidity issues can use this route to manage the cash flow, Chinthaka Mendis, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said recently.

Jamaica: JSE releases green bond guide
24 July 2024
The Jamaica Stock Exchange, JSE, has released its green, blue and sustainability bond guidelines to the market, giving brokers a list of additional procedures for such ‘thematic’ investments.

Türkyie: Borsa Istanbul: Periodic Review For The BIST Sustainability Themed Debt Securities Indices For The Third Quarter Of 2024 Has Been Finalized
26 July 2024
In accordance with the articles 3.1. and 3.2. of BIST Sustainability Themed Debt Securities Indices Methodology, periodic review for the BIST Green Corporate Eurobond Indices and BIST Sustainable Corporate Eurobond Indices for the third quarter of 2024 (August 1, 2024 – October 31, 2024) has been finalized. 

ASX Launches Environmental Futures Contracts To Support Liquidity And Scale Across Australian And New Zealand Carbon And Renewable Energy Markets
29 July 2024
ASX today listed three Environmental Futures contracts, marking the next maturity phase for carbon and renewable energy markets in Australia and New Zealand. These new contracts allow participants to price and hedge emissions reduction risk amid the transition to a lower carbon economy. 

Stock Exchange of Thailand picks FTSE Russell for new ESG scoring framework
30 July 2024
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has announced a partnership with FTSE Russell to provide a sustainability scoring framework for listed corporates in Thailand, ending a search that began in 2022.