WFE Publishes Draft Principles for Listed Companies In Transition to Going Green

 

PRESS RELEASE

WFE Publishes Draft Principles for Listed Companies In Transition to Going Green 

London, 26 May 2026 – The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses, has today published industry-backed Transition Equity Principles for exchanges globally.  

The WFE Transition Equity Principles, which are supported by WFE Members, spanning exchanges in every jurisdiction and continent, set out a guiding framework for Exchange Designations that create a hallmark for listed companies that are on credible decarbonisation pathways.  

Achieving the unprecedented levels of investment needed to decarbonise economies will depend heavily on capital channelled through financial markets. As the designers, operators, gatekeepers and guardians of regulated equity markets, exchanges play a key role in creating vital market integrity, credibility, price discovery, liquidity and transparency.  

The WFE has developed the Transition Equity Principles in response to global demand for offerings that support credible transition pathways and capital allocation towards Net Zero. The WFE Transition Equity Principles mark an important step in exchanges’ efforts to support and grow access to transition finance across public markets, building on the WFE Green Equity Principles, first published in 2023, and the WFE’s Practical Guide for Issuers on Accessing Transition Finance, published earlier this year.   

The WFE Transition Equity Principles will guide the establishment by exchanges of Transition Equity Designations, which improve access to capital for companies pursuing decarbonisation objectives and provide investors with decision-useful information on issuers’ transition pathways.  

The WFE Transition Equity Principles will bring clarity, consistency and rigour to the concept of transition equities and will contribute to international recognition among various offerings, thereby supporting cross-border investment activities.  

The WFE Transition Equity Principles have been developed with input from the WFE's Transition Equity Principles Consultative Committee, made up of WFE Members and industry experts. The WFE’s Sustainability Working Group, a practitioner group of Chief Sustainability Officers and leaders at WFE Members, have led the work. Once the Principles have been finalised, the WFE will publish supporting Guidance to accompany the Transition Equity Principles. 

Nandini Sukumar, Chief Executive Officer of the WFE, said: “We are in the time of transition. Unlocking the level of capital needed for the transition will require leadership and market design by  public markets. The WFE Transition Equity Principles will bring greater consistency and credibility to transition equity offerings, while helping to build confidence among issuers, investors and other market participants.”  

The Principles are available here and will be presented at the WFE’s Annual Sustainability Conference in Luxembourg on 3-4 June 2026.  

The WFE intends to formally consult on the Principles in due course. If you would like to register for updates on the WFE Transition Equity Principles and consultation, please sign up here.

Read the Draft WFE Transition Equity Principles

For more information, please contact:

Oonagh Shiel
Communications Manager
Email: communications@world-exchanges.org

About the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE):

Established in 1961, the WFE is the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses. Headquartered in London, it represents the providers of over 250 pieces of market infrastructure, including standalone CCPs that are not part of exchange groups. Of our members, 39% are in Asia Pacific, 41% in EMEA and 19% in the Americas region. The WFE’s 74 member CCPs and clearing services collectively ensure that risk takers post some USD 1.4 trillion (equivalent) of resources to back their positions, in the form of initial margin and default fund requirements. WFE exchanges are home to over 41,000 listed companies, and the market capitalization of these entities is over $137 trillion; around $198.5 trillion in trading annually passes through WFE members (at end-2025). 

The WFE is the definitive source for exchange-traded statistics and publishes over 350 market data indicators. Its free statistics database stretches back 50 years and provides information and insight into developments on global exchanges. The WFE works with standard-setters, policy makers, regulators and government organisations around the world to support and promote the development of fair, transparent, stable and efficient markets. The WFE shares regulatory authorities’ goals of ensuring the safety and soundness of the global financial system. 

With extensive experience of developing and enforcing high standards of conduct, the WFE and its members support an orderly, secure, fair and transparent environment for investors; for companies that raise capital; and for all who deal with financial risk. We seek outcomes that maximise the common good, consumer confidence and economic growth. And we engage with policymakers and regulators in an open, collaborative way, reflecting the central, public role that exchanges and CCPs play in a globally integrated financial system. If you have any further questions, or wish to follow-up on our contribution, the WFE remains at your disposal. ^[1] 

Website: www.world-exchanges.org

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^[1] Our EU Transparency Register number is 973382524675-69

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