ESG

At a time when many mature economies are reaching peak carbon, emissions in Asia Pacific remain on an upward trajectory as the region continues along a path of rapid urbanisation and economic growth.

Asia Pacific accounted for 53% of global carbon emissions in 2021, and has been responsible for more than 80% of global growth in carbon emissions over the past decade.

To improve transparency around the role that cites and the built environment play in carbon emission reduction, CBRE has developed the Asia Pacific Sustainable City Ranking, which measures current and future environmental resilience and its impact on commercial real estate across 28 cities in the region.

Cities are evaluated according to a range of environmental factors including greenhouse gas emission reduction, physical climate risk, water stress, air pollution, renewable energy use, green bond issuance, and green office building adoption.

This report was originally published in https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/asia-pacific-sustainable-city-ranking-dec-2022

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GDI Property Group (GDI), an Australian listed REIT headquartered in New South Wales, Australia, is currently constructing Perth’s first hybrid mass timber and steel frame office building. GDI will utilize a mix of cross laminated timber and steel to construct WS2, an 11 story, 9,500 square meter office building with the goal of creating a best-in-class, sustainably focused asset.

GDI underwent extensive research to understand both the environmental and economic impacts of developing what they’re calling Perth’s most environmentally friendly premium grade office building. Upon completion in late 2022, WS2 will boast a 5-star NABERS Energy Rating, a 5-star Greenstar Rating and will show a reduction of carbon by approximately 50% over the building’s lifespan vs. a similar al concrete/steel-based building and a reduction of 80% embodied carbon during the construction phase. This reduction will be captured through a combination of offsets, renewable energy systems within the building, and significantly lower embodied carbon during the construction phase. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve net zero operation, lowering scope one and two emissions, while achieving a better economic outcome as timber construction is “quicker and cheaper to build on a Total NLA Basis” according to the company in their 10 November presentation.

Climate positive activities are aimed at not only achieving but surpassing net zero emission goals through eradicating additional carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or greenhouse gases (GHG) from the atmosphere. In short, it’s about saving more GHG emissions than your actions produce, in order to create an environmental benefit.

When developing a climate positive strategy, the first stage is to apply a carbon accounting framework. For instance, if a building product manufacturer wants to develop a climate neutral or positive product, they must determine the total carbon footprint of that product. The carbon footprint covers everything — from the energy needed to source the original material/s as well as to produce, supply, use and dispose of the product — to the emissions related to product original material/s sourcing as well as product production, usage and disposal.

Once the total carbon footprint is calculated, as well as what needs to be counteracted to become carbon neutral, then an additional measurement number, such as an extra 10% for example, can then be tagged on to estimate what is needed to go climate positive.

How enterprises actually achieve climate positivity can differ. Usually, however, they meet the requirements via a mixture of reducing carbon emissions, shifting to renewable energy, producing locally, investing into offsetting, and purchasing carbon credits.

As the voice of sustainable investing in the Asia Pacific, APREA has developed the ESG Guidebook for Real Assets in Asia Pacific to raise awareness about ESG and guide our stakeholders in their journey to sustainability. We believe that capital allocated to real assets can play a meaningful role in the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), while leveraging growth opportunities in a manner that benefits all stakeholders.

We recognise that the ESG landscape continues to evolve, and this Guidebook lays out the basic foundation to integrate ESG and sustainability factors in how each of us conduct our businesses. Aside from providing a framework that can be used as a basis in establishing a systematic ESG approach, we have included practical ways to build and operationalise an ESG program with effective governance, as well as clear steps to engage and communicate with key stakeholders.

The Guidebook also features case studies among APREA members that illustrate various innovative approaches, that reflect their philosophy and investment styles, and thus, facilitating the exchange of best practices.