The UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative participated in London Climate Action Week (LCAW), engaging with exchanges, standard setters, investors, and sustainable finance leaders on the role of capital markets in accelerating climate action and supporting more effective climate governance.
As part of the week’s programme, the SSE co-hosted a closed-door roundtable alongside LSEG in partnership with S&P Global Energy as part of the SSE-S&P Global Energy collaboration. The discussion focused on the intersection of global carbon markets, energy security and decarbonization, at a time when renewed concerns around energy security are placing the transition to a low-carbon economy at the centre of global policy and market discussions.
Participants examined how international carbon markets can better support decarbonization and climate finance, particularly by helping to mobilize capital. While carbon markets have helped accelerate emissions reductions in some regions and sectors, participants noted that international markets remain fragmented and have not yet reached the scale needed to fully support global climate goals.
The roundtable discussion focused on several key issues, including the implications of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms for global carbon markets, how to build liquidity across regionally fragmented markets, the role of carbon markets in supporting global decarbonization amid rising energy security concerns, and whether existing international mechanisms such as Article 6 and CORSIA are sufficient to meet expected demand.
The SSE also participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and moderated by ChapterZero on board action on climate and nature, which highlighted the importance of moving climate and nature considerations beyond disclosure and into core business strategy, capital allocation, risk oversight and governance. The discussion underscored the need for stronger board capabilities, clearer investor signals and improved coordination across policymakers, markets and international organizations to support credible transition planning and implementation. 
In addition to these roundtable discussions, the SSE held bilateral meetings with key partners and stakeholders, including LSEG, GRI, IFRS, ChapterZero, China SIF, and Carbon Tracker. These meetings provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across priority areas of the SSE’s work, including sustainability disclosure, transition finance, climate data, carbon markets and support for stock exchanges and market participants.
This engagement during LCAW forms part of the SSE's broader work to support exchanges and market participants in advancing sustainable finance, strengthening climate-related market infrastructure, and promoting practical action on the transition towards more sustainable and resilient economies.