ESG – How Stock Exchanges Are Accentuating Positive Change

For a successful transition, capital flows need to be directed towards ESG. In a new article, Christian Reuss, Head SIX Swiss Exchange, outlines what stock exchanges can do to support this transition.

ESG – How Stock Exchanges Are Accentuating Positive Change
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The move towards a more sustainable economy will require a joint effort of governments, regulators, companies, investors and – connecting them all – of stock exchanges. Well-functioning stock exchanges are the beating hearts of prospering economies, operating efficient, liquid and transparent marketplaces to enable capital raising and price formation while connecting issuers with investors and their capital. And by performing these core functions, exchanges can play an integral role in supporting the positive change.

Christian Reuss, Head SIX Swiss Exchange

SIX and the stock exchanges it operates can leverage the listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody infrastructure to accelerate positive change.

Christian Reuss, Head SIX Swiss Exchange

In the article ESG – How Stock Exchanges Are Accentuating Positive Change, Christian Reuss, Head SIX Swiss Exchange, outlines how SIX as a leading European FMI and the stock exchanges it operates can be a driving force. Exchanges can accelerate positive change by enhancing capital-market efficiency. At SIX Swiss Exchange, our current hypothesis is that supporting the harmonization of disclosures, which fosters transparency and enhances comparability, is one of the strongest ways in which exchanges can increase efficiency. Christian Reuss also emphasizes that while ESG is here to stay, returns need to be there too in order to reach critical scale and impact.

The article was first published by the Network For Innovative Corporate Governance (NICG) in the Booklet “Board Dynamics”: Rethinking Competing Demands - 2023/1. Discover the full magazine (PDF) as well as this and previous editions online. The aim of the NICG is to collect existing long-term approaches, to coordinate them and, building upon, to create new, innovative approaches and solutions in corporate governance and present the results in a way that is both benefit-oriented and meaningful for society and business. About NICG

Sustainability at SIX

As a key player in the financial markets, SIX supports the sustainable and responsible development of the financial industry. That’s why we have developed a strategy that puts sustainability at the heart of our business. It is based on a three-pillar model with areas where we can achieve the greatest possible impact for the economy, society, and the environment: as a Financial Market Infrastructure, as an ESG Product Provider and as a Good Corporate Citizen. Find out more

To explore how engagement between investors, companies and other stakeholders can maximise social impact, as well as to reveal the challenges that remain, SIX Swiss Exchange commissioned an Economist Impact report. Furthermore, The Economist interviewed Christian Reuss, Head SIX Swiss Exchange, for the creation of the article How stock exchanges contribute to social change. 

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