The phrase  “less talk, more action” is probably part of the introductory remarks for almost every larger event covering sustainability issues. Patrick Odier called for action when opening the Building Bridges Summit in early October and Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UNCTAD, also encouraged accelerated action on a global level when opening the World Investment Forum last week in Abu Dhabi.

No one doubts that we need to see much more decisive action in addressing climate change and many other prevalent challenges. Yet “talk” – engaged dialogue – forms the basis for effective action. Meeting people face to face in a time of growing polarisation helps to create trust, find a common language and build alliances that can lead to effective action. The Building Bridges Action Days in Geneva provided the venue for the announcement of numerous new initiatives addressing burning social and environmental issues. And in Abu Dhabi, investors from around the world met with representatives of the Global South looking to build partnerships for a sustainable economic development. Talking with each other is a key prerequisite to achieve this target.

SSF is particularly proud to have published the Swiss Stewardship Code jointly with the Asset Management Association Switzerland (AMAS) during Building Bridges at a packed event. The objective of this guidance is nothing more than encouraging investors to talk more with their investee companies and make clear, what their expectations regarding sustainable business behaviour are. In short: More talk, more action!

> Visit our website for more about these and other SSF activities

Swiss News

• At the end of September, the Federal Council (FC) decided on key parameters for a consultation draft to amend the non-financial reporting obligations (Art. 964a-964d CO).
• The Federal Council adopted the draft Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–27. One of the four thematic priorities will be the environment (climate change, biodiversity, pollution, sustainable energy supply) as a new focus of foreign policy. The final version will be adopted in early 2024.

International News

• The UK Transition Plan Taskforce has published their Disclosure Framework, which is a result of work by HM Treasury since 2020 and aims to set out good practice for the development of robust and credible transition plans.
• The US Department of the Treasury has set out Principles for Net-Zero Financing & Investment, which aims to underscore the importance of net-zero commitments, promote consistency in these commitments and encourage best practice adoption.

Market News

• According to the Morningstar annual “Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2023”, two thirds of asset owners feel ESG has become more material to investment policy in the past five years.

We are happy to welcome the following organisations as new SSF members: 

• Valitas (Service Provider)
• Valitas Sammelstiftunq BVG (Valitas INDEPENDA) (Pension Fund)
• Compacta Sammelstiftung BVG (Pension Fund)

The full list of our members and network partners, now standing at 249, can be found here.

• 24 October, Zurich, Schulthess Forum Kreditfinanzierung 2023 (SSF as partner)
• 6 November, Lausanne, Immobilier direct et indirect suisse: quelles réponses aux enjeux de durabilité et de décarbonation? (SSF event for Asset Owners)
• 7 November, Zurich, Introducing the Swiss Stewardship Code (SSF/AMAS event)
• 9 November, Zurich, Sustainable Investments Day (HSLU)
• Save the date: 20 June 2024, 10th Anniversary SSF Annual Conference

Further events are listed on the SSF website.

• 20 October 2023, Schweizer Banken wollen Greenwashing-Regulierung abwenden, Handelsblatt
• 19 October 2023, Schlag für die Finanzbranche: Bundesrat bringt eigene Greenwashing-Verordnung auf den Weg, tippinpoint
• 19 October 2023, Schweizer Klimazeugnisse sind ein Ladenhüter, NZZ print
• 19 October 2023, Die EU verärgert mit ihrer Nachhaltigkeitsbürokratie die Finanzbranche. Doch auch das Schweizer Klimazeugnis für Fonds kämpft mit Problemen, NZZ online
• 6 October 2023, AMAS und SSF publizieren Leitlinien zu Stewardship, VPS
• 5 October 2023, AMAS und SSF lancieren den «Swiss Stewardship Code», The Onliner
• 4 October 2023, L'Asset Management Association Switzerland et Swiss Sustainable Finance lance le Swiss Stewardship Code, allnews
• 4 October 2023, Swiss groups outline principles for new stewardship code, Investment and Pensions Europe Magazine
• 4 October 2023, Wer keine Leitplanken hat, setzt sich selber welche, finews.ch

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