ESG

Pension funds, sovereign-wealth funds, insurance companies and other institutional owners of capital are committing to reduce financed emissions across their portfolios.

This guide from MSCI ESG Research outlines concrete steps to help asset owners convert climate commitments to action.

This guide was originally published in https://www.msci.com/www/research-paper/implementing-net-zero-a-guide/03298099988

For the MSCI APAC ESG Research team, three of the trends in MSCI’s 2022 ESG Trends to Watch report resonated with particular strength and importance, as they present major potential risks and opportunities in the APAC region: The Coal Conundrum: Rethinking Divestment, Coffee vs. Burgers: Biodiversity and the Future of Food and The New “Amazon Effect”: Corporates Pushing Corporates for Net-Zero Supply Chains.

This report explores these three trends more deeply, delving into the underlying ESG metrics and ultimately identifying a group of companies that are considered ESG trendsetters.

This report was originally published in https://www.msci.com/www/research-paper/esg-trendsetters-in-apac/03104342240

ESG savvy multinationals are in a tight race towards net zero by 2030. Many know that being a responsible corporate citizen is not only good for the planet—it is good for the bottom line. At the same time, investors are keen to unlock funds for those who not only talk the talk about reducing emissions but walk the walk with quantifiable solutions. And a sure thing is electrifying buildings through green sources.

It is well documented by climate experts that a significant proportion of emissions arise from commercial real estate, with carbon dioxide and methane gases typical byproducts from operating workplaces. Emissions spike in tropical and sub-tropical climes that require year-round air conditioning or northern climes that need to heat and illuminate workdays with short daylight hours. In its 2019 report, the World Green Building Council noted that “building and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world, with operational emissions (from energy used to heat, cool and light buildings) accounting for 28%. The remaining 11% comes from embodied carbon emissions, or ‘upfront’ carbon that is associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole building lifecycle. WorldGBC’s vision to fully decarbonise the sector requires eliminating both operational and embodied carbon emissions."    

Keeping corporate eyes on the renewable energy prize helps companies focus on combating reliance on existing power grids that historically burn fossil fuels. “Our buildings can definitely be powered by 100% renewable energy sources,” ascertains Lisa Hinde, Head of Sustainability | Asia Pacific, Real Estate Management Services. “Many existing buildings are currently cycling out equipment that consumes gas on site and committing to electrification as part of their development strategy. This is supported by industry frameworks such as Green Star Building mandating electrification as the only pathway to a 6-star rating.  

It is Allianz Real Estate’s view that ESG issues, such as climate change, are increasingly impacting the fundamentals of the real estate markets worldwide. As such, Allianz Real Estate believes that ESG needs to be integrated within its business, from the investment processes through to the way it interacts with tenants.

This document, which is based on the Allianz Real Estate ESG Group Policy, outlines its approach to integrating ESG considerations into the business processes within our investment approach. It applies to all areas of our investment activity – equity and debt, directly held and indirect – and has been adopted by all branches and hubs of Allianz Real Estate around the world. Approved by the Allianz Real Estate Executive Committee, the policy has been developed in conjunction with Allianz Climate Solutions but does not influence the own-use real estate managed by other entities within the Allianz Group. It follows Allianz’s holistic approach to the integration of corporate responsibility and particularly ESG criteria into business, which is recorded in the Allianz Group standards and governance records.

This report was originally published in https://www.allianzrealestate.com/_Resources/Persistent/306c15ef8a33b053fcc309911575501038f06b8c/ARE_ESG_Policy%20May%202021.pdf