Euronext, a leading European market infrastructure provider, has announced the launch of several new tools and services aimed at enhancing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing and sustainability reporting. The announcement was made during Euronext Sustainability Week, which featured multiple initiatives focused on promoting sustainable finance and providing insights into the evolving landscape of ESG regulations. Among the new offerings is an ESG Peer Benchmarking Report, an enhancement of Euronext’s existing “My ESG Profile” digital tool. This new solution enables listed companies to benchmark their ESG performance against their peers, offering them valuable insights and comparison points to improve their sustainability practices.
Euronext also launched an ESG Advisory service targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them comply with the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) disclosure requirements. The CSRD, which took effect in early 2024, introduces more stringent sustainability reporting requirements for companies, focusing on environmental impact, human rights, social standards, and sustainability-related risks. Initially applying to large public-interest companies with over 500 employees, the directive will expand in 2025 to cover companies with more than 250 employees or €40 million in revenue, followed by listed SMEs in the subsequent year. The new ESG Advisory service, offered under Euronext Corporate Services, is designed to support SMEs in implementing the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) specific to smaller companies under the CSRD. Euronext also launched the “Euronext Sustainable Network,” a collaborative ecosystem that brings together various sustainable finance market participants, including investment firms, banks, lawyers, audit and advisory companies, carbon brokers, and data providers. This network aims to foster best ESG practices, drive ESG innovation, and support issuers while educating its members on ESG topics, regulations, and emerging trends. In addition to expanding its suite of ESG tools, Euronext has introduced an updated version of its ESG Reporting Guide to help companies understand and apply best practices for ESG reporting . In addition, a new Academy training service was introduced, which aims to help corporate sustainability officers and C-suite leaders better navigate EU legislation and international ESG standards. Stephan Bojna, CEO and President of Euronext N.V., emphasized the importance of cooperation to achieve sustainability in finance, saying: “At Euronext, we strive to promote the sustainability of Europe by building bridges between the local and global capital markets.” He highlighted the company’s commitment to developing ESG products and services that empower companies to improve their ESG performance and contribute to greater sustainability.