The United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative today launched its new Derivative Exchange Database which contains information on derivative exchanges’ sustainability activities.
“We are pleased to make more data freely available on the sustainability activities of market operators. Today we launch the SSE derivative exchange database with data on a dozen exchanges, but we will be expanding both the scope and depth of this database in the months and years to come,” said Anthony Miller, Coordinator of the UN SSE. “When the SSE first launched its stock exchange database a decade ago, it was similarly small, but today contains sustainability data on 120 exchanges around the world, making it the largest database of its kind. We expect the derivatives database to grow in a similar way over the coming months and years.”
The SSE has expanded its existing databases to incorporate what derivatives exchanges are doing to advance the sustainability agenda. The creation of the SSE derivatives network in 2021 recognizes the importance of aligning all aspects of financial markets with more sustainable outcomes and the next step in the SSE’s evolution. For more information about this work, visit the SSE derivatives exchanges webpage.
The new database follows the 2021 publication of the SSE guidance How derivatives exchanges can promote sustainable development developed in collaboration with the World Federation of Exchanges.
Derivatives exchanges are an important part of the overall solution to bridge the investment gap between existing and required levels of investment to meet the SDGs. Commodity derivatives markets, for example, provide a direct link to the underlying market and therefore present a unique opportunity for supporting sustainable development. Derivatives exchanges can also list products that support action on climate change and mitigation of the impacts of climate change (SDG 13) or that enhance access to reliable, affordable, sustainable and modern energy for all (SDG 7).
“We are proud to be welcoming derivatives exchanges as members of the SSE,” said James Zhan, Chair of the UN SSE at the launch of the SSE derivatives network. “Since the SSE was launched over a decade ago, sustainable finance has expanded to all corners of the marketplace. All forms of finance will be needed to help us with the historical transition to a net zero emissions world and to achieve the globally agreed sustainable development goals. We welcome the enthusiasm of derivatives exchanges to contribute to some of the world’s most challenging issues and we look forward to working with this community to promote best practices for sustainable development.”
SSE initiative
The SSE was established by the UN Secretary General just over a decade ago and has grown from its original five founding members to over one hundred exchanges. Since its founding, the SSE has worked with stock exchanges, securities regulators and other equity market actors to identify a range of opportunities for exchanges to take action in support of the sustainable development goals.
The SSE’s research pillar aims to support a better understanding of the key sustainability issues facing stock exchanges and provide decision-ready data and best-practice examples to assist exchange leaders in their sustainability efforts. Research compiled by the SSE initiative is provided free of charge as a public good and is available on the SSE’s website, through publications, and via interactive online databases.
To learn more, visit the SSE’s database of stock exchange sustainability activities. Currently, the database has data on 103 stock exchanges and tracks progress on key activities where exchanges are promoting sustainable business and investment practices. It is the largest data set of its kind and the data is freely accessible.
The SSE ESG Guidance Database contains a comprehensive list of all stock exchange ESG guidance documents in the world so that other stock exchanges can learn from their peers. The database is now updated to include an analysis of major ESG reporting instruments referenced in stock exchange guidance documents. To learn more about SSE work in this area, visit our ESG disclosure workstream on the SSE website.
The database identified five activities that stock exchanges are undertaking in support of the diffusion of reporting practices in alignment with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). To learn more about SSE work in this area, visit our Climate Action workstream on the SSE website.
SSE Gender Equality Database ranks stock exchanges of the G20 by the gender balance of their issuers’ boards. The data analyzes gender equality on the boards of the top 100 issuers by market capitalization on 22 major G20 stock exchanges (if an exchange does not have 100 issuers, then the database includes all issuers). It also includes an overview of the number of female chairs and CEOs that lead these companies. To learn more about SSE work in this area, visit our Gender Equality workstream on the SSE website.
SSE Securities regulators database
SSE has an interactive Securities Regulators Database to provide examples of how securities regulators are already contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. These examples can be filtered by the ten action areas found in the SSE’s Action Plan for securities regulators which is the central guidance of the SSE publication How securities regulators can support the Sustainable Development Goals. To learn more about SSE work in this area, visit our Securities Regulator workstream on the SSE website.
