Overview

Our Purpose

Markets are a powerful force for good in achieving the aims of supporting and driving sustainable value creation. The JSE, as a leader in sustainability in emerging markets, recognises the importance of integrating the long-term perspective into financial markets to reduce socio-economic and physical risks, and to contribute to enhanced financial stability, as well as a low carbon economy through a just transition.

We aim to create an enabling environment to support sustainable value creation, facilitate responsible investing and to drive better sustainability practices, and improved disclosure.

Our Sustainability Strategy

Our sustainability mission is to create an environment that supports sustainable value creation, encourages responsible investing, and improves sustainability practices and disclosures. We aim to achieve this mission through four key undertakings:

1. Guide our markets on the importance of ESG and sustainability disclosure and incorporating ESG/sustainability factors into investment considerations by influencing and supporting better sustainability practices in the market.

JSE Sustainability Disclosure Guidance
- The JSE launched its voluntary Sustainability and Climate Change Disclosure Guidance in June 2022 which was developed through research, extensive public consultation and inputs from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) network. The guidance aims to support listed companies in navigating the increasingly complex global sustainability disclosure landscape and an evolving regulatory environment. It will benefit investors by improving the quality of sustainability information available to enable informed investment decisions. The locally relevant guidance encourages greater accountability and business leadership in addressing South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges. Click here to access the JSE Sustainability Disclosure Guidance
- The guidance will is currently being updated to incorporate relevant IFRS 1 & 2 requirements.
ESG Training
- The JSE Training Academy provides several paid and free ESG training courses to facilitate better reporting.
- Click here to access the sustainability training options

2. Acting in a manner that explicitly incorporates sustainability across the value chain, both as an exchange and as a pivotal player in the South African economy by enhancing internal sustainability performance

We ensure that our human capital management, economic development and transformation, CSI and environmental management have a positive social impact and a lower environmental footprint.
We have joined the Race to Zero Partner Initiative through the Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance (NZFSPA), and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) to promote and champion sustainability measures within South Africa, and internationally, and have committed to supporting net zero by 2050.
We are a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact 10 principles which means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

3. Providing the tools and services that facilitate responsible investing and the reorientation of capital flows to more sustainable development by growing the span and uptake of relevant sustainability instruments in the market.

The JSE plays an important role in facilitating responsible investment and sustainable development by providing a platform for ESG instruments.
The JSE, through JPP, also provides a private marketplace to raise funds for SMEs and other projects with a key focus being funding important sectors for South Africa’s economic growth and sustainable development
Click here to view the JSE’s sustainability product suite

4. Leveraging our central role to foster engagement and advocacy on sustainability issues, thereby amplifying the voice of emerging markets by participating and engaging in national and global sustainability forums

The JSE participates in various national and international initiatives to support and encourage sustainable, transparent business practices and responsible investing which include:
- The Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (founding member).
- The United Nations Global Compact
- The Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance
- The Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero

Sustainability Report:

Click here to view our latest Sustainability Report