With demand for data centers showing no sign of slowing down, can such growth can ever be green?
There are significant follow-on financial effects as the real estate industry looks to decarbonize, but there is a lot that managers can do, say CRREM's Sebastian Leutner and Ben Höhn.
Standardized regulatory frameworks and transparent data are needed around sustainable investing to drive informed decisions, says our panel.
PERE's 2023 LP Perspectives Study found that 23% of investors aimed to invest largely in ground-up development to help lower carbon emissions and 33% intended to focus on retrofitting assets, yet there's a long way to go.
Progress to reduce carbon emissions globally has been slow, but change is possible. PERE speaks with property players to learn what they are doing to improve sustainability.
Water use, waste and materials recycling as well as biodiversity are also important factors when it comes to environmental, social and governance best practices.
Regulators are targeting the real estate sector – which is responsible for 39% of European carbon emissions – and the market is responding.
Data collection and management is important for asset owners who want to understand how their portfolio is performing against decarbonization and other sustainability targets.
Regulations, climate, risks and the prioritizing of ESG varies widely around the world, so investors and managers need to stay informed.
Targets should revolve around issues that are strategically important to the company and that focus on areas in which the company can make a material difference, sustainability professionals point out.