Secretary-General's video message for "Sustainable Stock Exchanges" event

Welcome to the United Nations. Thank you for your commitment and engagement.

You meet as our world faces many grave and interconnected challenges.

The global economic crisis continues to unfold, despite some signs of recovery in some places.

Climate change threatens to disrupt economies and societies around the world.

This “threat multiplier” will compound other global problems, from food and water scarcity to energy security, poverty and the spread of disease.

We all have a stake in solving these challenges. That is why the United Nations and the business and financial communities have been working more closely together in recent years.

Among the unprecedented partnerships we have forged is the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability and responsibility initiative.

Another is the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment, which today includes more than 600 institutional investors with assets of over $18 trillion.

Both initiatives are based on the need to better manage and integrate environmental, social and governance issues. These so-called ESG issues are critical in creating a world economy that is more stable, inclusive and sustainable.

Stock exchanges and other financial bodies and institutions have a key role to play.

Many of you have taken important steps to advance this agenda. I welcome your efforts to incorporate ESG considerations into new stock indexes, listing rules and regulatory frameworks.

I hope today's discussions will inspire you to go further still.

I thank the Global Compact, UNCTAD, and PRI for convening this event.

I wish you great success and look forward to deepening our partnerships in addressing the big issues of our times and in building a better world for all.

Thank you.