Increased transparency to seize opportunities and mitigate risks related to the transition to a low carbon economy
Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon, London and Paris, 22 March 2018 – Euronext, the leading pan-European exchange in the Eurozone, today endorsed the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Recommendations and committed to further support transparency on climate-related risks and opportunities on financial markets.
The signing of the recommendations took place during an opening bell ceremony in Brussels, held in presence of Michael Bloomberg, and during which the Belgian State, the National Bank of Belgium and the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) also signed up to endorse the TCFD Recommendations. The bell ringing coincided with the "High-level conference: Financing sustainable growth" organized by the European Commission in Brussels.
The Task Force, led by Michael Bloomberg and established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), developed voluntary recommendations on climate-related information that companies and organisations should disclose to help investors, lenders, and others make sound financial decisions. Structured around four thematic areas – Governance, Strategy, Risk Management and Metrics & Targets – the TCFD Recommendations provide a framework for companies to respond to the increasing demand for transparency on climate-related risks and opportunities from investors.
A broad adoption of the TCFD Recommendations will be crucial in helping financial markets assess and price climate-related risks and opportunities correctly and ensuring a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy.
Michael R. Bloomberg, Chair of the Task Force and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action, commented: “More transparency will drive capital to companies that are mitigating risks posed by climate change and capitalizing on the opportunities it presents. Businesses have strong incentives to lead the way on climate change, and better data will help them do more and act faster. I want to thank all of the Belgian leaders who joined our growing coalition today.”
“As a market operator, Euronext has an important role to play in channeling savings and investment into the energy transition. Promoting transparency in markets, setting high standards of integrity and governance, and encouraging the world’s leading companies to initiate an open dialogue with investors and other stakeholders about climate-related risks and opportunities are some of our key priorities,” said Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of Euronext. “By offering green and climate bonds to issuers from various sectors and geographies, Euronext provides them with new sources of financing and promotes a sustainable growth strategy that is mindful of a low-carbon and resource-efficient economic model while it answers to an increasing demand for transparency from investors.”
To celebrate this endorsement, Michael Bloomberg, rang the bell to open the markets at Euronext Brussels.