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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.
Read MoreIt 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
Download the Report Read MoreCohen & Steers’ commitment to investment excellence is built upon a culture of continuous improvement, and that includes our approach to ESG integration. They believe their proprietary approach to integration and engagement, combined with the framework established in the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), helps to promote transparency and has the potential to enhance their ability to deliver more consistent, attractive risk-adjusted returns.
This report was originally published in https://assets.cohenandsteers.com/assets/content/resources/insight/ESG-Evolving-Landscape_ES2050.pdf
Download the Report Read MoreIn their Integrated Sustainability Report 2022, CDL talks about their reduction strategies to attain the goal of decarbonising towards net zero, guided by various globally-recognised disclosures such as TCFD, SASB and CDSB. They also share their determination to drive innovation and building performance, and create inclusive business environments and develop sustainable communities.
This report was originally published in https://www.cdlsustainability.com/pdf/CDL_ISR_2022.pdf
Read MoreThis paper from MSCI examines the challenges presented by both climate change and the net-zero transition to investors looking to measure and manage climate risk in their portfolios. Effective management of climate risk requires a clear understanding of its multifaceted nature.
Broadly speaking, climate risk can be broken down into physical risk and transition risk, and it can impact companies and investors via both microeconomic and macroeconomic transmission channels. The transition to net-zero depends on many factors: policymakers’ decisions, the development and economic feasibility of green technologies, investors’ attitude toward climate risk and net-zero investing and consumers’ sentiment toward low-carbon consumption. This and the long horizon mean that investors face an elevated level of uncertainty when making investment decisions.
One approach is to undertake forward-looking scenario analysis, in which various outcomes for uncertain factors such as policy decisions and the development of green technology can be explored, along with their financial impacts. This is becoming a standard tool for climate risk analysis, supported by major organizations such as TCFD.
In this paper, the MSCI Climate Value-at-Risk (Climate VaR) metric is used to examine climate risk in a set of hypothetical portfolios and explore a few strategies to reduce that climate risk. A second approach could be to incorporate a carbon-emission factor in equity risk models to help quantify the impact of emissions on portfolio returns.
As more investors begin to consider the risk of climate change when making investment decisions, financial markets may see a reallocation of capital from carbon-intensive to carbon-efficient investments — and companies’ emission profiles may emerge as a systematic driver of equity returns. Although climate risk management is not yet widespread among investors or fully standardized by regulation, industry trends are pointing in this direction. Investors may therefore wish to be aware of existing approaches for measuring and managing climate risk.
This report was originally published in https://www.msci.com/www/research-paper/net-zero-alignment-managing/03147524351
