The Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative is convening a high-level dialogue on Green Finance alongside the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 23). The full-day event will bring together ministers of finance, chief capital market regulators and CEOs of stock exchanges, investors and issuers to help chart the path forward for stock exchanges and their contribution to achieving climate goals.

Stock exchanges are uniquely placed to promote standards, guide issuers and investors, and enable growth in green finance. To facilitate these contributions, following a year of consultations with an international advisory group, the SSE will be launching a new guidance on green finance. This guidance will outline the role that exchanges can play in greening capital markets and promoting green financial products. It will identify clear action points and provide examples of best practice for use by stock exchanges worldwide.

During the morning, this event will feature a high-level leadership forum for CEOs and government officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities of green finance. Following a networking lunch, the afternoon will focus on technical workshops.

The UN SSE initiative is co-organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment and the UNEP Finance Initiative. Launched in 2009 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the SSE initiative is a peer-to-peer learning platform for exploring how exchanges can promote responsible investment for sustainable development. Stock exchanges around the world are invited to join the initiative by signing a voluntary public commitment to promote sustainable business practices in their market.

date: 16 November 2017
location: Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
www: http://www.sseinitiative.org/cop23/