Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative

OVERVIEW

Overview

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. Like many United Nations initiatives, the SSE looks to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as agreed upon by the General Assembly within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to help focus its activities.

Mission and focus areas

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. The initiative focuses its activities on several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 5 (Board room diversity and gender), SDG 12 (Reporting on environmental, social and governance), SDG 8 (SME growth and sustainable development), SDG 13 (Climate action and green finance), SDG 10 (Security market regulation), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for sustainable and transparent capital markets).

Programs and offerings

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. It develops certified training programs made available to capital market participants free of charge, covering topics such as climate risk disclosures, nature action, gender equality, and IFRS Sustainability Standards. The initiative also maintains databases on stock exchange sustainability activities, ESG guidance, and gender equality, and produces publications such as model guidance and action plans for integrating nature into markets.

MISSION STATEMENT

The SSE’s Mission

To build the capacity of stock exchanges and securities market regulators to promote responsible investment in sustainable development and advance corporate performance on environmental, social and governance issues.

ORGANISATION TYPE

Government Sponsored / Multilateral Organisations

YEAR ESTABLISHED

2009

LOCATION

Switzerland

RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY SUSTAINABLE STOCK EXCHANGES INITIATIVE

How exchanges can integrate nature into markets: An action plan

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) - Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative

19 October 2026

This report provides an action plan for stock exchanges to integrate nature-related considerations into capital markets. It outlines a framework—establish, activate, enable, and educate—to help market participants manage dependencies and risks while mobilising capital for nature-positive outcomes and resilient economies.