GENEVA, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - A study has revealed that only three per cent of the world's largest listed companies* report on all basic sustainability metrics.
In their third annual study, "Measuring Sustainability Disclosure: Ranking the World's Stock Exchanges", investment advisory and research firm Corporate Knights Capital researched how well global stock exchanges encourage listed companies to disclose basic corporate responsibility data.
Corporate Knights Capital analysed the extent to which the world's publicly traded companies are disclosing the seven basic 'first-generation' metrics: employee turnover, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, injury rate, payroll, water consumption and waste.
Just over a third of large listed companies (39%) report on the amount of greenhouse gases they are emitting, but only a quarter disclose their water consumption (25%) and just 12 per cent report on their rate of employee turnover.
The study also found that although the number of large companies disclosing basic sustainability indicators is increasing, the rate of uptake is flatlining. For example, the percentage of large listed companies that disclosed their energy use increased by 88 per cent from 2008 to 2012 but only by five per cent from 2011 to 2012. There is a similar slowdown in reporting occurring on the other sustainability indicators.
The study ranks the world's stock exchanges on sustainability reporting performance. It reveals that:
The study was prepared with the support of Aviva plc, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Commenting on the study's findings, Toby Heaps, Chief Executive at Corporate Knights Capital said: "We urge policy-makers to encourage or mandate listed companies to measure and disclose their performance. The lack of corporate reporting on first generation indices is in stark contrast to the increasing demand for them from investors, community groups and NGOs, as well as the broader trend toward increased corporate transparency and accountability."
Notes to editors:
*World's largest listed companies with a market capitalization of at least US$ 2 billion.
Rank - 2014 |
Rank - 2013 |
Rank - 2012 |
Exchange Name |
Country |
Number of large companies |
Overall score |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Helsinki Stock Exchange |
Finland |
23 |
76 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
Euronext Amsterdam |
Netherlands |
35 |
74 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
Johannesburg Stock Exchange |
South Africa |
54 |
73 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
Euronext Paris |
France |
122 |
73 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
Copenhagen Stock Exchange |
Denmark |
22 |
72 |
6 |
14 |
16 |
Euronext Lisbon |
Portugal |
11 |
72 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
Oslo Stock Exchange |
Norway |
19 |
71 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
BME Spanish Exchanges |
Spain |
47 |
68 |
9 |
11 |
12 |
London Stock Exchange |
United Kingdom |
223 |
68 |
10 |
17 |
11 |
Australian Securities Exchange |
Australia |
96 |
67 |
11 |
32 |
32 |
Borsa Istanbul |
Turkey |
28 |
65 |
12 |
3 |
N/A |
Tokyo Stock Exchange |
Japan |
404 |
65 |
13 |
31 |
N/A |
Bolsa Colombia |
Colombia |
21 |
64 |
14 |
12 |
6 |
Stockholm Stock Exchange |
Sweden |
57 |
64 |
15 |
8 |
15 |
SIX Swiss Exchange |
Switzerland |
65 |
64 |
16 |
9 |
N/A |
Athens Stock Exchange |
Greece |
11 |
63 |
17 |
23 |
18 |
Hong Kong Stock Exchange |
China |
222 |
63 |
18 |
26 |
N/A |
Shanghai Stock Exchange |
China |
171 |
63 |
19 |
13 |
8 |
Borsa Italiana |
Italy |
55 |
63 |
20 |
15 |
13 |
Deutsche Börse |
Germany |
98 |
62 |
21 |
25 |
N/A |
Taiwan Stock Exchange |
China |
72 |
62 |
22 |
18 |
17 |
Singapore Exchange |
Singapore |
53 |
62 |
23 |
24 |
23 |
Bursa Malaysia |
Malaysia |
50 |
62 |
24 |
21 |
9 |
BM&FBOVESPA |
Brazil |
86 |
62 |
25 |
28 |
25 |
Mexican Stock Exchange |
Mexico |
46 |
60 |
26 |
38 |
N/A |
Shenzhen Stock Exchange |
China |
144 |
60 |
27 |
40 |
31 |
Bangkok Stock Exchange |
Thailand |
42 |
60 |
28 |
27 |
24 |
Wiener Börse |
Austria |
16 |
58 |
29 |
22 |
19 |
Euronext Brussels |
Belgium |
24 |
58 |
30 |
19 |
26 |
Moscow Exchange |
Russia |
37 |
58 |
31 |
16 |
27 |
Korea Exchange |
South Korea |
100 |
58 |
32 |
30 |
28 |
Toronto Stock Exchange |
Canada |
162 |
58 |
33 |
39 |
20 |
Philippine Stock Exchange |
Philippines |
35 |
56 |
34 |
33 |
N/A |
New York Stock Exchange |
United States |
1060 |
56 |
35 |
34 |
30 |
National Stock Exchange |
India |
129 |
55 |
36 |
20 |
21 |
Santiago Stock Exchange |
Chile |
31 |
54 |
37 |
N/A |
N/A |
Irish Stock Exchange |
Ireland |
12 |
53 |
38 |
37 |
N/A |
Indonesia Stock Exchange |
Indonesia |
37 |
52 |
39 |
36 |
N/A |
Nasdaq |
United States |
406 |
51 |
40 |
N/A |
N/A |
New Zealand Exchange |
New Zealand |
13 |
47 |
41 |
45 |
33 |
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange |
Israel |
23 |
44 |
42 |
42 |
N/A |
Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange |
Saudi Arabia |
43 |
35 |
43 |
35 |
34 |
Warsaw Stock Exchange |
Poland |
20 |
34 |
44 |
44 |
N/A |
Qatar Stock Exchange |
Qatar |
21 |
20 |
45 |
41 |
N/A |
Kuwait Stock Exchange |
Kuwait |
14 |
11 |
46 |
43 |
35 |
Lima Stock Exchange |
Peru |
15 |
1 |
About Corporate Knights Capital
Corporate Knights Capital is an investment advisory and research firm based in Toronto, Canada, with over a decade of experience quantifying corporate sustainability. Corporate Knights Capital is a global leader in building investment strategies that integrate high quality corporate sustainability data. In 2013, Corporate Knights Capital launched the world's first sustainable smart beta equity strategy. For more information about Corporate Knights Capital, please visit: www.corporateknightscapital.com
About Aviva
About Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, part of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), is the world's leading provider of independent credit risk research and benchmarks. We publish more than a million credit ratings on debt issued by sovereign, municipal, corporate and financial sector entities. With over 1,400 credit analysts in 25 countries, and more than 150 years' experience of assessing credit risk, we offer a unique combination of global coverage and local insight. Our research and opinions about relative credit risk provide market participants with information and independent benchmarks that help to support the growth of transparent, liquid debt markets worldwide.
About the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the global body for professional accountants, supporting 170,000 members and 436,000 students across 180 countries and from 91 offices and centres. ACCA works to strengthen a global profession that is based on the application of consistent standards, which ACCA believes provide the best support for international business and the desire of talented people to have successful, international careers. ACCA champions the needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and emerging economies, and promotes the value of sustainable business.
Image with caption: "Corporate Knights Capital released its third-annual "Measuring Sustainability Disclosure: Ranking the World's Stock Exchanges" report, prepared with support from Aviva plc, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.) (CNW Group/Corporate Knights Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141014_C2904_PHOTO_EN_6627.jpg
SOURCE: Corporate Knights Inc.
Toby Heaps, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Knights Capital, (416) 203-4674
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