The paper plans to promote transparency and good governance for listed companies on best practice.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) launched its Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Guidance consultation paper on 9 December.
The paper plans to promote transparency and good governance and guide listed companies on best practice in environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure. JSE Group CEO Leila Fourie explains that, in response to the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainability standards and frameworks, this guidance provides JSE-listed issuers with guidelines specifically tailored to the South African context, while being fully cognisant of global best practice.
“It is our hope that this set of guidance documents will be a valuable resource and tool to all our listed companies, regardless of size or sector and we look forward to receiving your comments and feedback as we refine this work in preparation for the final document to be published in 2022,” says Leila.
It is intended that this disclosure guidance will serve as an umbrella for sub-topic guidance as needed, with the first such guidance on climate disclosure to be released at the same time.
JSE Group chief sustainability officer Shameela Soobramoney says there is a growing expectation on business to play a role in the shift towards stakeholder capitalism, coupled with a growth of investor interest in ESG issues: “This shift in expectations creates the opportunity for stock exchanges to play a role.”
The JSE’s Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Guidance consultation paper will be open for public comment between 9 December 2021 and 28 February 2022.
