How we work

The Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative has three inter-related pillars of activity: research, consensus building and technical assistance. The SSE builds its work on collaboration and partnerships for the greatest impact. The SSE aims to include representatives of all capital market stakeholders in all of its workstreams and has a network of exchanges, regulators, market participants, standard setters and other experts that engage with the SSE on a regular basis.

Overview 

Theory of Change

The SSE’s theory of change is to work in partnership with all capital market stakeholders to create new opportunities and understanding of market signals through consensus building, technical assistance and research. As a UN Partnership Programme, the SSE focuses its work on topics which align with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Research

The SSE initiative conducts research and compiles information about sustainability measures implemented in different jurisdictions. This research is compiled and made public through open sources via its database of fact sheets and online publications. The SSE is the only source for sustainability-related data on stock exchanges world-wide.

The SSE undertakes thematic research projects to further support stock exchanges in their sustainability activities through research and guidance. The SSE has published guidance for stock exchanges on their own sustainability practices, green finance, sustainability reporting and gender equality. In addition, the SSE has developed a number of shorter briefings for meetings held on a specific topic. Where appropriate, the SSE contributes to other publications or supports other organizations through peer reviewing.

Databases

The SSE compiles data for three databases publicly avaialble on its website. This includes sustainability information on stock exchanges, sustainability-related regulatory initiatives, and sustainability reporting guidance documents. This data is also compiled in a biennial basis and published in the SSE’s Report on Progress. 

The SSE’s stock exchange and securities regulation databases can now also be filtered for a more user-friendly interface. Use the buttons below or the databases tab on the menu to access our three databases. 

Consensus Building

The SSE works with its five key stakeholder groups and other key experts to build consensus around sustainability topics such as sustainability reporting, green finance, SME platforms, gender equality and other sustainability themes.

Global Dialogues

Held once every two years, the flagship SSE Global Dialogue is a unique global gathering designed to bring together market leaders to analyse, promote and foster communication on stock exchanges’ sustainability initiatives. Attracting speakers and audience members from around the world, the SSE Global Dialogue has become the main global platform for convening dialogue on sustainable capital markets.

Other consensus building activities

In addition to the Global Dialogue, the SSE holds many other events throughout the year, which usually take one of the following formats:

  • Regional Dialogues, where local capital market leaders are brought together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of their region
  • Executive Luncheons and side events, which usually take place alongside an important UN summit or event, giving capital market executives the opportunity to discuss the role of stock exchanges and regulators in supporting government efforts for sustainable development
  • Roundtables and working group meetings, which bring together operational level participants to discuss and advance a particular topic or research agenda
  • Bell ringing ceremonies, to raise awareness on specific topics and to commemorate important events

Technical Assistance

The UN SSE provides technical assistance to exchanges through the SSE Academy, the education arm of the SSE focused on the provision of globally consistent and pragmatic training for market participants on the adoption and implementation of sustainable finance practices. Together with its education partners, the SSE Academy develops certified training programs made available to capital market participants free of charge with the objective of supporting the education and training needs of stock exchanges. By partnering with topic experts and specialists, the SSE Academy’s mission is to support stock exchanges in their efforts to bring their markets up-to-date with pragmatic educational resources on key sustainability-related issues. Every SSE Academy’s training programs can be found on the SSE Academy events page.

The SSE also provides technical assistance to exchanges, regulators and policy makers through technical guidance documents, model guidance and action plans, as well as bespoke bilateral advisory services. The SSE also provides secretariat services to specific international working groups, such as the Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance, part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. In addition, SSE staff contribute to conferences, events, seminars and workshops by sharing best practice, trends and opportunities for leveraging market infrastructure to accelerate sustainable finance, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

 

The technical assistance work of the SSE is made possible by SSE Official Supporters.

Partnerships

The SSE builds its work on collaboration and partnerships to amplify impact and to ensure a holistic approach. The SSE aims to include representatives of all capital market stakeholders in all of its workstreams and has a network of the stock exchanges, capital market regulators, investors, companies, policy makers and other experts that engage with the SSE on a regular basis. While the SSE engages first and foremost with stock exchanges, the other four key stakeholder groups are key to supporting stock exchange’s efforts in promoting and enhancing the sustainability and transparency of capital markets worldwide.

Exchanges

Stock exchanges and derivatives exchanges are the SSE’s primary partners, and are invited to become an SSE Partner Exchange by signing a commitment letter.

To further support exchanges in their sustainability commitment, the SSE invites all Partner Exchanges to participate in its events, join its thematic advisory groups, contribute to its research, and to participate in quarterly calls where international organisations, exchanges, regulators, standard setters and market participants  share new research, best practice and updates on latest developments.

If exchanges wish to engage with the SSE, they can:

  • Join the SSE as a Partner Exchange.  There are no fees for being a member of the United Nations SSE. Partner Exchanges should make a good faith effort to actively participate in our work streams as their time and resources permit. To find out more about becoming a Partner Exchange, you can visit our FAQ page or contact us at info@SSEinitiative.org
  • Make use of our guidance, tools and databases. Visit the SSE website’s publications section for practical guidance on and tools for advancing sustainability in your markets. Use the SSE’s online databases to track your exchange’s progress against peers and learn more about sustainable finance innovations around the globe. 
  • Benefit from SSE Academy training programs. The SSE Academy is the UN SSE’s education arm focused on the provision of globally consistent and pragmatic training for market participants on the adoption and implementation of sustainable finance practices. Together with its education partners, the SSE Academy develops certified training programs made available to capital market participants free of charge with the objective of supporting the education and training needs of stock exchanges.
  • Become an SSE Official Supporter. Official Supporters recognize that the SSE’s ‘whole of market’ approach to accelerating sustainable finance has made it the premier platform for collaboration and learning for exchanges alongside regulators, standard setters and market participants. Through their financial contributions to the SSE, Official Supporters help the SSE further its mission to build sustainable markets and disseminate best practices. Contributions enable the SSE to continue to provide exchanges, regulators and other key capital market stakeholders the technical assistance, tools and expertise required to meet their sustainability objectives.

Securities Market Regulators

The SSE has always engaged securities regulators as a key stakeholder group given their close relationship with stock exchanges. While each market is unique, regulators can play an important role in supporting a stock exchanges efforts to promote long-term sustainable investment and improved ESG transparency.

If capital market regulators wish to engage with the SSE, they can:

  • Join the SSE’s Regulator Working Group. Email info(at)SSEinitiative.org for more information.
  • Engage in multi stakeholder dialogues on potential options that strengthen the regulatory environment, encourage long-term approaches to investment and encourage sustainability reporting that meets investors’ needs. Regulators are welcome at all of the SSE’s events, which can be found here;
  • Strengthen relevant international bodies responsible for equity markets in order to equip them to better address sustainability issues

Investors

The SSE works with Investors via the PRI and UNEP-FI, two of the SSE’s organizers. Investors that work closely with the SSE have contributed to the SSE’s projects as well as proposed their own projects for engagement with stock exchanges and regulators on sustainability topics.

If investors wish to engage with the SSE, they can:

  • Become an SSE Official Supporter and join the SSE’s Consultative Group, to engage with stock exchanges and regulators to accelerate the adoption of sustainable finance in capital markets. Benefit from environmental, social and governance training programmes offered to investors. Gain access to the SSE Consultative Group invitation-only quarterly calls to share experiences across markets and receive updates from regulators, standard setters and other market participants. Email info(at)SSEinitiative.org for more information.
  • Contribute to specific topics by joining one of the SSE’s Advisory Groups that develop the normative guidance found in our publications
  • Incentivise stock exchanges and regulators to define disclosure requirements and innovate sustainable finance products by showing your support for SSE campaigns, investing in sustainable products, and making your interests known.
  • Participate in the SSE’s high-level dialogues and technical deliberations to advance your market’s sustainability and leadership.

Listed Companies

The SSE works with listed companies via the UN Global Compact, one of the SSE’s organizers.

If companies wish to engage with the SSE, they can:

  • Become an SSE Official Supporter and join the SSE Consultative Group to lend your voice to the discussion and encourage your stock exchange(s) to undertake sustainability activities. Contribute to global deliberations on sustainability disclosure practices and sustainable finance product development. Benefit from environmental, social and governance training programmes offered to issuers.  Gain access to the SSE Consultative Group invitation-only quarterly calls to share experiences across markets and receive updates from regulators, standard setters and other market participants. . Email info(at)SSEinitiative.org for more information.
  • Contribute to specific topics by joining one of the SSE’s Advisory Groups that develop the normative guidance found in our publications.
  • Incentivise stock exchanges and regulators to define disclosure requirements  and innovate sustainable finance products by showing your support for SSE campaigns, leading by example, and making your interests known.
  • Participate in the SSE’s high-level dialogues and technical deliberations to advance your market’s sustainability and leadership.

    Policy Makers

    As a UN Partnership Program, policy makers play an integral role in the mandate and mission of the SSE initiative.

    If policy makers wish to engage with the SSE, they can:

    • Support the SSE through financial contributions to its technical assistance programmes.
    • Participate in the SSE’s  high-level dialogues and technical deliberations to advance your market’s sustainability and leadership.

    Official Supporters

    Official Supporters recognize both a market demand and a global necessity for more sustainable and transparent financial markets. Through their financial contribution to the SSE, Official Supporters help the SSE further its mission to strengthen sustainable markets.

    The yearly contribution made by the Official Supporters enables the SSE to better serve its mission and to grow its research, events and technical assistance in support of exchange’s and regulator’s sustainability activities.