United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative

The Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative is a peer-to-peer learning platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, regulators, and companies, can enhance corporate transparency – and ultimately performance – on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment. The SSE is organized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UN Global Compact, the UN Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The first meeting of the SSE was opened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in New York City, USA in 2009. The success of this event led to the launch a year later of a biennial series of SSE Global Dialogues taking place on even years. In addition to its flagship Global Dialogues, the SSE now also holds regional dialogues and high-level summit side events. At the SSE 2012 Global Dialogue a new dimension to the initiative was launched, with the five participating stock exchanges making a public commitment to sustainability in their markets, thereby becoming SSE Partner Exchanges. The first five SSE Partner Exchanges, BM & FBOVESPA, the Egyptian Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Borsa Istanbul and Nasdaq, are now joined by nearly all major stock exchanges worldwide from both developed and developing countries. The SSE initiative continues to invite exchanges globally to become a Partner Exchange of the SSE by making a voluntary public commitment to promote improved ESG disclosure and performance among listed companies. It works with all of its Partner Exchanges through dialogue, capacity building and research to continue the momentum and to promote sustainable and transparent capital markets worldwide. In addition, the SSE welcomes participation from securities regulators, investors, companies and other key stakeholders within its Consultative Groups.