18 Accepted

On the concerns around the constituents of indices described as ‘green’, we note the requirements...

Recommendation
On the concerns around the constituents of indices described as ‘green’, we note the requirements under the Benchmarks Regulation, which should be used to help consumers make better choices. However, it is clear that in some cases the labels or descriptions of ‘green’ or ‘climate-related’ indices do not necessarily match legitimate consumer expectations of what they would commonly be understood to mean. The Treasury and FCA should review the provisions in the legislative and regulatory framework and ensure that the labels and descriptions of indices accurately reflect their content, in line with consumer expectations.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights the existing Benchmarks Regulation for obliging providers to disclose sustainability metrics, which aids consumer verification. The Treasury will continue to work closely with the FCA on these issues to ensure accurate index labelling.
Paragraph Reference
138
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The Benchmarks Regulation obliges all providers of benchmarks to disclose sustainability metrics or declare that they do not have a sustainability objective. This will help consumers verify the green credentials of benchmarks with a sustainability objective. The Treasury will continue to work closely with the FCA on these issues. Please refer to the FCA’s response for further information.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 5.3 yrs
Report published 22 Apr 2021