24 September 2015: As world leaders gathered to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), capital market regulators and CEOs of stock exchanges, investment houses and large companies joined senior UN officials for the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSE) Leaders Luncheon on the SDGs, hosted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). They also celebrated the launch of the SDGs with a special Closing Bell ceremony at the NYSE.

More than 30 high-level leaders of business and government attended the SSE Leaders Luncheon, in New York, US, on 24 September, 2015.

Participants argued that stock exchanges can play an important role in promoting good corporate practices and facilitating investment in sustainable development, through activities such as sustainability reporting, mobilizing finance, gender equality and global partnerships. Speakers noted ways for stock exchanges and capital markets to support implementation and financing of the SDGs, specifically through the SSE.

Attendees included leaders from Nasdaq, the London Stock Exchange Group, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, the Egyptian Exchange, Morgan Stanley, Nestle and Citi, chief market regulators from India and the Republic of Korea, and other high-level dignitaries.

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said stock exchanges can help build momentum in such areas as carbon pricing and moving away from fossil fuels subsidies towards renewable technologies, as they are able to mobilize partners with the necessary expertise, technology and financial resources. During the event, four stock exchanges – those in Colombo (Sri Lanka), Kazakhstan, Mauritius and Rwanda – committed to join the SSE as Partner Exchanges.

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Executive Director Fiona Reynolds and UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi rang the NYSE bell to mark the SDGs’ launch.

The SSE was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2009, and currently has 27 Partner Exchanges. It is co-convened by the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), PRI and UN Global Compact.

Forbes magazine called the SSE one of the “World’s Best Sustainability Ideas.” [SSE Press Release] [SSE Leaders Luncheon Details] [UNEP Press Release] [Remarks by UNEP Executive Director]