The Taiwan Monthly

ESG

The TWSE and Cathay Financial Holdings Jointly Organized the “2025 Cathay Sustainable Finance and Climate Change Summit” to promote corporate sustainability.

The 2025 Cathay Sustainable Finance and Climate Change Summit, co-hosted by the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) and Cathay Financial Holdings, took place on July 9. The 9th summit was themed “A New Outlook for Sustainability,” focusing on “The Current State of Sustainable Finance Amid Uncertainty” and “Nature-Positive and Inclusive Solutions for Business.” Held both in person and online, the event attracted approximately 5,000 participants to explore key trends and practical developments in sustainable finance and climate action. More than 2,500 organizations participated in the event, including over 700 listed companies, representing about 80 percent of Taiwan’s total market capitalization. This turnout demonstrated the strong commitment and proactive engagement of Taiwanese enterprises in addressing climate-related issues.

In her keynote speech titled “Dual Engines of Sustainability – Innovation and Sustainability as Advantages for Taiwan’s Capital Market,” Edith Lee, President of the TWSE, stated that the world is currently facing an environment shaped by intertwined climate and geopolitical risks. For Taiwan’s capital market, this is not only a challenge but also a new opportunity for enterprises to demonstrate their value. The TWSE is leading by example in advancing sustainable transformation. In May this year, it launched the “Taiwan Nature-Based Carbon Sink and Sustainability Coexistence Action Plan,” taking direct action on sustainability and strengthening collaboration with local governments as well as the agriculture and forestry sectors. This initiative reflects TWSE’s strong belief in sustainable value and its concrete commitment to it. In addition, the TWSE continues to promote sustainable finance and advance listed companies’ sustainability governance and information disclosure. By aligning with the dual transformation pillars of “innovation” and “sustainability,” these efforts aim to strengthen the operational resilience of Taiwanese enterprises and enhance their global competitiveness.

In addition to advancing the sustainable transformation of the capital market, the TWSE is also driving the development of green economy industries through the Innovation Board, supporting high-quality Taiwanese enterprises focused on innovation and sustainability in accessing the capital market. Since the comprehensive upgrade of the Innovation Board in January 2025, including the removal of qualified investor restrictions, the platform has fostered a clustering effect in the green energy, environmental protection, and circular economy sectors. It has emerged as a key board, attracting widespread attention from innovative companies and investors. Companies in the green energy and environmental protection sectors listed on the Innovation Board have recorded price-to-book ratios higher than the overall market average, reflecting investors’ strong confidence in their growth potential and outlook.

Since 2020, the TWSE has partnered with Cathay Financial Holdings to co-host the Climate Change Forum, continuously fostering a platform for dialogue among industry, government, academia, and research sectors, providing strong momentum for Taiwan’s sustainable transition. Looking ahead, the Taiwan Stock Exchange will continue driving progress with “innovation” and “sustainability” as dual engines, leveraging the capital market’s integrative and guiding role to help enterprises address global challenges, strengthen climate resilience, and create new competitive advantages for Taiwan’s capital market amid the transition toward net zero and innovation.

 

For further information, please contact Mr.Yen at 1413@twse.com.tw.