September News Highlights

September News Highlights

1 October 2022

This month includes news from BIVA, BSX, Euronext, NASDAQ 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 and IFC support Amman Stock Exchange’s leadership on climate-related disclosures 13 September 2022 The UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative together with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) held a joint event with the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) to initiate the development of local guidance on climate-related disclosures. The ASE will be the first exchange in the region and the 5th globally to develop climate-specific reporting guidance that builds on global standards and best practices. UN SSE and IFC provide training of trainers on environmental, social and governance topics for Europe and Central Asia 21 September 2022 Building on their cooperation agreement, the UN SSE initiative supported a series of workshops for training partners hosted by the International Financial Corporation (IFC). The two day event provided participants with an overview of key trends in disclosure and corporate governance and trained them on tools and resources they can use to support companies’ environmental, social and governance activities. SSE supports launch of BIVA’s class for Chief Sustainability Officers 22 September 2022 The UN SSE initiative was invited to provide opening remarks to launch the second class of Mexican stock exchange BIVA’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Accelerator Program, BIVA 360° Sustainable Program. The program looks to equip issuers and potential issuers with CSOs to lead the ESG corporate transition.  New SSE TV New Episodes Released! The SSE TV has released new episodes featuring Alex Matturri (Board Member of Cboe), Walt Lukken (CEO & President of FIA Global), Carole Laible (CEO of Domini Impact Investments), Samuel Ho Hock Guan (CEO of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad), Luc Fortin (CEO & President, Montreal Exchange & Global Head of Trading at TMX Group).September 2022 SSE upcoming events: UN SSE, CDP & IFC to Provide Free Climate Disclosure Training to Exchanges and their Issuers In order to provide markets with high-quality training on climate disclosure and provide an overview of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, the UN SSE together with IFC and CDP, have created a multifaceted CPD accredited course for exchanges to distribute to their markets, free of charge. These sessions have been delivered in more than 20 markets so far, from New York to Bangladesh and London to South Africa. For more information on past and future training sessions, visit the SSE Academy event page. Contact: climate@sseinitiative.org if you would like to host a training session in your market. This is a NO COST service available for all SSE Partner Exchanges.  EXCHANGE NEWS BSX: Bermuda's Path of Steady Growth, Cooperation and ESG initiatives 01 September 2022 Greg Wojciechowski, President and CEO, Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) talks about Bermuda's Path of Steady Growth, Cooperation and ESG initiatives taken by BSX recently. The country is persevering in positioning itself to become a global leader in climate risk finance solutions and addressing the estimated $1.2 trillion global protection gap. Bahrain Bourse is Launching a Series of Webinars on  Finance, Investment, and Sustainability 10 September 2022 In collaboration with Bahrain Bourse, the BIBF is launching a series of one-hour free webinars that will allow participants to engage in interactive live discussions with experienced speakers from the industry. These live sessions will enlighten the participants with topics from the sectors: finance, Investment, and sustainability. WFE’s 8th Sustainability Survey Reveals Focus on Carbon Neutrality Transition 12 September 2022 The eighth Annual Sustainability Survey published by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry group for exchanges and central clearing counterparties, has revealed a significant advance in the depth and scope of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) – with an increased focus on the transition to carbon neutrality. This year’s report confirms the strength of what has consistently been a positive trend in the response of exchanges to ESG issues. LuxSE and West-African regional exchange BRVM join forces on Sustainable Finance 14 September 2022 During an official visit to Luxembourg by representatives from Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) and the West-African regional exchange celebrated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). BIVA: Why is the role of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) so relevant? 14 September 2022 In this new episode on Espacio BIVA, the Bolsa Institucional de Valores (BIVA) received Hernando Aguilera, Partner and Director of the Social Value Institute who spoke with Íker Vinageras responsable of Issuers and Solutions in ESG at BIVA, about the important role of Chief Sustainability Officer and its impact inside and outside a company. (in Spanish) EURONEXT: A look inside Signify’s ESG journey 16 September 2022 Euronext had the pleasure to interview Maurice Loosschilder, Global Head of Sustainability at the Dutch company, Signify N.V. The multinational lighting corporation formed in 2016 through the spin-off of the lighting division from Philips.Listen to Maurice Loosschilder talking us through Signify’s inspiring ESG journey and best practices. NASDAQ: The Future of Climate Investing 19 September 2022 At a recent Nasdaq webinar on the future of climate investing, three leading analysts, including Nasdaq’s European Data Product Development lead, Alexander Free, discussed the current state of climate investing, data’s role in the evolving landscape and how to hold institutional investors and companies accountable for their ambitious climate agendas. SIX Commits to Net Zero by No Later Than 2050 21 September 2022 On Zero Emissions Day, SIX has committed to achieving the target of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 at the latest. To underline this commitment, SIX has joined the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi). FTSE Russell: Green equity exposure in a 1.5°C scenario: Applying Climate Investment Trajectories with Green Revenues 22 September 2022 Green investment needs to scale rapidly to limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5°C, with recent studies estimating that between USD109-275 trillion is required by 2050. Drawing on the FTSE Russell Green Revenues data, this research explores the impact of these macroeconomic estimates on the listed equity markets and forecasts benchmarks’ green revenues exposure in the 1.5°C scenario. NASDAQ: Advancing the E in ESG 22 September 2022 To celebrate the 14th annual Climate Week, Nasdaq’s Green Team is sharing the knowledge and insights from a panel that included Nasdaq’s Lead Climate ESG Advisor, Ekaterina Hardin, the Founding Principal of SolEd Benefit Corporation and Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteer, David Kunhardt and Founder/Executive Director of Environmental Voter Project, Nathaniel Stinnett. Together, they discussed how to reduce our carbon footprint, optimize resources and promote sustainable practices.  Tokyo Stock Exchange and the NYSE Announce New Collaboration to Support Cross-Border Investment 23 September 2022 Tokyo Stock Exchange  (TSE) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), announced a new agreement to support cross-border investment between Japan and the U.S. by collaborating in areas including product development, marketing, sustainability and information sharing. Nasdaq Stockholm: Head of European Fixed Income and ESG discusses the Green Transition Era 24 September 2022 Fredrik Ekström, Head of Nasdaq Stockholm European Fixed Income and ESG discusses the green transition era at Nasdaq Climate Week. Climate change is one of the most critical challenges we face as a society, and the financial market plays a key role. REGULATOR AND STANDARD SETTER NEWS UN Global Compact launches new guidance on a Just Transition for Business 08 September 2022 The UN Global Compact launched new guidance today for business to ensure the substantial benefits of the transition to a green economy are shared widely, and support workers’ rights and livelihoods. CBI: New Social & Sustainability Bond Database: enhanced screening capabilities for full GSS+ market 14 September 2022 Climate Bonds initiative (CBI) is expanding its data analysis capabilities with the launch of a Social and Sustainability Bond Database (SnS DB), in keeping with the diversifying labelled bond market. The new database will complement the existing Climate Bonds Green Bonds Database, an internationally authoritative source of best practice green debt product data. UNCTAD: New Tool tracks Global Trade in Biodiversity Products 23 September 2022 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has launched a new online tool with groundbreaking data on global imports and exports of biodiversity-based products. These include natural foods, cosmetics, handicrafts, natural medicines and ecotourism with interactive maps and charts on how countries import and export them. EF: TCFD adoption by Exchanges surges 25 September 2022 A new article by Environmental Finance shows how the adoption Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) is surging among exchanges. Adoption of the TCFD recommendations is expected to help companies communicate material climate-related financial information to investors. IFC: Journey to COP27 25 September 2022 At COP27, IFC will showcase breakthrough private sector solutions and focus on how to accelerate the development of bankable opportunities for decarbonization and climate change adaptation. The 27th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) is taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6th to 18th, 2022. Egypt’s vision as COP27 President is to move from negotiations and planning towards “full, timely, inclusive, and at-scale action on the ground”. ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS IDB Invest Issues Social Bond to Support MSME Value Chains in Latin America and the Caribbean 02 September 2022 IDB Invest issued a three-year social bond in Mexico worth 2.5 billion Mexican pesos (equivalent to approximately US$125 million). This is IDB Invest's second sustainable issuance in Mexico, following a gender bond issued in March 2021.  The social bond was listed on the Mexican Institutional Stock Exchange (BIVA) and matches the size of IDB Invest’s largest bond issuance in Mexico to date, reflecting IDB Invest's commitment as a leading sustainable issuer in Latin America and the Caribbean. LuxSE welcomes Zoomwe Hong Kong New Energy Technology on LGX with a USD 140 m Green Bond 08 September 2022 Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) is  pleased to welcome Zoomwe Hong Kong New Energy Technology on LGX with a USD 140 m green bond! This new listing comes only a few months after LuxSE joined forces with Chongwa Financial Asset Exchange for the 2nd time since 2020. LuxSE marks KfW’s EUR 50 bn Green Bond Milestone 12 September 2022 KfW, a promotional bank owned by the Federal Republic of Germany and the German federal states, has reached the milestone of EUR 50 billion in total green bond issuance since 2014. This achievement was marked by a Ring the Bell ceremony at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE), the reference listing venue for KfW’s green bonds. EURONEXT in partnership with HSBC AM Offers First Biodiversity Screened ETF 13 September 2022 HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) has launched the HSBC World ESG Biodiversity Screened Equity UCITS ETF, the first of its kind. The UCITS ETF was developed in partnership with Euronext and Iceberg Data Lab (IDL) to identify the impact of corporations on biodiversity across the globe.  LGX with three new Green Bonds by Danish Renewable Energy Company 14 September 2022 Danish renewable energy company Ørsted is back on Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX) with three new green bonds, denominated in EUR and GBP.  With this issuance, 2022 becomes Ørsted's largest year for sustainable bond issuance to date.   GENDER EQUALITY UN Women: Calling on all men to act now to drive action on gender equality, world leaders gather to accelerate progress at UN Women’s HeForShe Summit 14 September 2022 Against a global backdrop of receding rights for women and girls, as well as collective crises like climate change, conflict, and natural disasters, the HeForShe Summit gathered political, business, global development and social justice leaders to review progress on gender equality across countries, companies and communities. While UN Women recently reported that, at the current rate of progress, it may take close to 300 years to achieve full gender equality, the HeForShe Summit urged men to do their part in accelerating equality in whatever capacity they can.

About the SSE

​The SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE’s mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services.