This month’s edition features news from October, with highlights from Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and beyond. Compiled by the SSE, these monthly updates provide an overview of the latest developments in capital markets and sustainability.
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SSE & PARTNER NEWS
Preventing and Addressing Modern Slavery: introduction to the new UN SSE Model Guidance
To support stock exchanges, regulators, investors, and listed companies in tackling modern slavery risks, the UN SSE has developed new model guidance on modern slavery. This new guidance was developed together with Walk Free, UN Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and an advisory group of 23 organizations from 16 countries chaired by the CEO of the Indonesian Stock Exchange. This guidance provides practical steps and recommendations for market participants to strengthen due diligence, reporting, and engagement on modern slavery. This event will officially launch the UN SSE Model Guidance on Modern Slavery. Register here.
Podcast Spotlight: UN SSE x LSEG on Catalyzing Sustainable Investment
UN SSE Chief Anthony Miller joined LSEG’s Sustainable Growth podcast with host Jane Goodland to explore how the UN SSE works with stock exchanges to accelerate sustainable investment. The conversation digs into practical steps for stronger ESG disclosure, why market guidance matters, LSEG’s perspective on voluntary carbon markets, and the underestimated risks shaping capital markets. Listen here.
Report Launch: 2025 WEPs Global Survey Report
The UN SSE joined the celebration and launch of the WEPs Global Survey Report 2025, marking 15 years of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The report captures how WEPs signatory companies are turning commitments into action - spotlighting progress, challenges, motivations, and future priorities—and will help guide the initiative’s strategic direction and tools. With responses from 800+ private-sector entities across 118 countries, the data shows rising ambition yet uneven progress. Learn more here.
S&P Global–PSE Thought Leadership: The Business Case for Sustainability
S&P Global, in collaboration with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), hosted its inaugural thought leadership event in Manila, convening Filipino sustainability leaders to spotlight how sustainability is becoming core to business strategy. Keynotes from Ramon Monzon (President & CEO, PSE) and Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad (Chair, Institute of Corporate Directors) underscored that sustainability must be embedded in organizational DNA.
Two high-impact sessions from SSE partners PRI and UNICEF during PRI in Person
SSE partners PRI and UNICEF will host two high-impact sessions during PRI in Person 2025 in São Paulo. On Tuesday, 4 November 2025 from 08:30 to 12:40 BRT at the Anhembi Convention Centre, the PRI Sustainable Finance Policy Conference will convene policymakers, regulators, regulatory affairs professionals and investors to debate the latest sustainable finance policy reforms across key capital markets. On Wednesday, 5 November 2025 from 13:10 to 14:25 BRT in Room 113 at the same venue (lunch served), UNICEF’s side event “Child Lens Investing: Unlocking Equity for the Next Generation” will introduce a growing approach launched in 2023 and recognized among TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024, highlight stewardship strategies that support children’s rights and offer networking with peers. Registration for the PRI conference is via the PRI in Person programme.
New RepRisk 2025 Greenwashing Report
RepRisk has released its 4th annual greenwashing report, highlighting a sharp rise in nature-related misconduct. Incidents of greenwashing tied to biodiversity have tripled, and the share of companies linked to both greenwashing risk and biodiversity risk has doubled over the past five years. The findings underscore that risks to the natural world are risks to the commercial world: greenwashing and biodiversity loss carry material financial and operational implications that are increasingly deterring investors, partners, and customers. For exchanges, issuers, and market participants, the message is clear—strengthen governance, disclosures, and market guidance to manage nature-related risks and protect trust and transparency in capital markets. Read the full report here.
SSE Academy Upcoming Workshops & News
The following SSE Academy workshops are coming up 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/
- 13 November: Bursa Malaysia Workshop on IFRS Sustainability Standards
- 19 November: Mongolian Stock Exchange Workshop on IFRS Sustainability Standards
EXCHANGE NEWS
Nasdaq Dubai Welcomes Emirates Islamic’s USD 500 Million Sustainability-Linked Financing Sukuk
8 October 2025
Emirates Islamic listed a USD 500 million Sustainability-Linked Financing Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai on 8 October 2025 - the world’s first sukuk of its kind. Investor demand reached USD 1.2 billion (2.4× oversubscribed), enabling a profit rate of 4.540% p.a., at 95 bps over 5-year US Treasuries. The deal lifts Emirates Islamic’s outstanding sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai to USD 2.77 billion, while the exchange now hosts over USD 100 billion in outstanding sukuk.
3rd Malaysia Carbon Market Forum Spotlights ASEAN Common Carbon Framework and Strategic Collaborations
15 October 2025
Bursa Malaysia’s 3rd Malaysia Carbon Market Forum (MCMF 2025) spotlighted plans for an ASEAN Common Carbon Framework and new collaborations to scale a high-integrity regional VCM. During the forum on 15 October 2025, Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) announced two memorandums of collaboration - with the Malaysia Forest Fund to explore integrating Malaysia’s forest assets into carbon market initiatives, and with Sarawak Energy to advance hydropower-linked renewable energy certificate (REC) offerings. Collectively, these steps aim to deepen cross-border cooperation, catalyse investable nature-based solutions and strengthen market transparency across ASEAN.
ATHEX Sustainability Summit 2025
16 October 2025
Athens Exchange Group hosted the inaugural ATHEX Sustainability Summit 2025 on 9 October 2025 at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, creating a new dialogue platform for Greece’s market ecosystem on the green transition. The summit targeted both listed and non-listed companies with practical guidance and latest insights on sustainability. Agenda themes included the European regulatory framework, the role of boards, sustainable investing and ESG assessments/IR, and digital tools for managing sustainability. Sessions and networking - including a CEO panel - were designed to help companies navigate evolving requirements and investor expectations.
TTSE announces shift to T+1 trade settlement by 2026
24 October 2025
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange announced plans to shorten its securities settlement cycle to T+1 by 2026, aligning with global best practice and modernising market infrastructure. TTSE leadership noted the shift is part of a broader efficiency push that includes a proposal to extend trading hours to support the transition. The move is expected to reduce counterparty and operational risk, improve liquidity, and enhance the exchange’s regional competitiveness. Implementation planning is underway with regulators and market participants. On sustainability, TTSE also highlighted work with IDB Invest on a Green Bond Guide to support sustainable and blue bond listings, and its recent joining of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative.
REGULATOR & STANDARD SETTER NEWS
DFSA and HKMA to co-host second Climate Finance Conference to strengthen sustainable finance through innovation, resilience and cross-border collaboration
9 October 2025
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will co-host the second DFSA–HKMA Joint Climate Finance Conference on 26 November 2025 in Dubai, advancing innovation, resilience, and cross-border collaboration in sustainable finance. Themed “Transforming Tomorrow: Harnessing Green Finance for Sustainability,” the event features a fireside chat with DFSA Chief Executive Mark Steward and HKMA Deputy Chief Executive Darryl Chan. Panels will explore opportunities to green the Asia–Middle East Corridor, the role of tokenisation in the transition, and findings from joint research on sustainable debt in emerging markets. Strategic partners include DIFC Authority and Nasdaq Dubai, with the conference convening policymakers, industry leaders, and global investors to catalyse capital flows toward net zero.
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) hosted inaugural Climate Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) Conference
14 October 2025
Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) hosted its inaugural Climate Adaptation & Resilience (A&R) Conference, spotlighting how Malaysia’s capital market can mobilise market-based finance for climate adaptation. Discussions focused on enabling policies, science-based investment strategies, and innovative structures to improve the bankability of adaptation projects, with examples spanning coastal flood protection, biodiversity conservation, and urban heat resilience.
Launch of Government Initiatives to Support the Development of High-Integrity Carbon Markets
28 October 2025
Singapore has announced a suite of government initiatives to build high-integrity carbon markets, led by the National Climate Change Secretariat, MTI, EnterpriseSG, and MAS. Key among them is MAS’s new S$15 million Financial Sector Carbon Market Development Grant (2025–2028) to help financial institutions defray early participation costs and develop capabilities across the carbon value chain; applications open 1 November 2025. EnterpriseSG is also working with major Asian corporates on a buyers’ coalition to aggregate demand for verified credits, with further details expected in 2026.