The construction sector has focused mainly on improving its energy efficiency and the substitution of fossil fuels to decarbonize buildings.  It has largely ignored the threat from the continued growth in the built environment.  This article argues that embodied carbon in buildings can be reduced only at the strategic ...

Environmental and social (E&S) risks are the potential negative consequences to a business that result from its (perceived) impacts on the natural environment or communities.  Failure to effectively manage E&S issues in a business can lead to a range of financial, legal and reputational consequences for the com ...

This guide provides a methodology to support the hospitality industry in making net-zero commitments and taking action to achieve them.  It sets out an adaptable approach for hotel companies of any size and sets a baseline from which hotels can pursue a net-zero target.  The guide helps hotels to understand how emissio ...

Buildings that are too uneconomical to retrofit to comply with legislation, such as the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and National Energy and Climate Plans, become stranded assets.  They are a significant risk for investors and property owners that have not ensured that their real estate assets are future-proofe ...

Green loan principles (GLP) are a high-level framework of market standards and guidelines to promote the development and integrity of the green loan product.  They define green loans as any debt instrument, including bonds, made available exclusively to finance or re-finance, in whole or in part, new and/or existing el ...

Unless "sufficiency" becomes a primary principle in climate mitigation and policies for the development and use of buildings, it is unlikely that global warming will be reduced.  This article explains that we cannot meet the Paris Agreement targets of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels without building efficiency improv ...

EU taxonomy was intended to provide a system for the classification of environmentally and financially sustainable economic activities.  It is essentially a green label for the investment of over a trillion euros.  Also called the "Sustainable Finance Taxonomy", it's about subsidized financing and lots of money.  The t ...

Asset managers conduct annual portfolio reviews and tenant engagement surveys to identify and manage potential obsolescence issues.  Future pricing is a concern and they understand the risk that many obsolete assets may soon be on the market at the same time, pushing prices down.  Thus, lenders and investors are focusi ...

Countries are transitioning to low carbon, sustainable and climate-resilient economies.  The action taken by states on climate change and sustainability will affect the profitability and viability of many existing investments and commercial arrangements.  Significant changes to the investment environment in the name of ...

The European Commission (EC) consulted with the general public and key stakeholders to regulate green claims in marketing and combat greenwashing.  The consultation assessed the reliability and scope of current labels/initiatives and reviewed the current greenwashing practices that mislead market actors and reduce sust ...

2021 was a significant year for climate litigation.  This post highlights some of the most significant decisions in climate litigation and their implication for the future.  The verdicts show that courts increasingly recognize climate change as a human rights issue and that judges are prepared to order both states and ...

The EU plans to regulate the renovation of already existing, poorly insulated or ventilated buildings to become carbon neutral by 2050.  The "nearly net-zero" energy efficiency standards for new builds are set to be strengthened.  For the initiative, the Commission will make up to €150bn in regional development, cohesi ...

The majority of hotel carbon emissions result from operational energy consumption.  With 80% of hotels in 2050 already in existence, this white paper sets out a high-level framework and prioritizes interventions throughout the remaining life cycle of the existing building stock.  The paper addresses the net-zero carbon ...

Sustainable Interior Architecture and Design (SIAD) impacts energy conservation as well as occupants’ satisfaction, comfort, and physical and psychological wellbeing.  Although its adoption is necessary for achieving the sustainable development and operation of the built environment as well as the relevant sustainable ...

Stewardship is the use of influence by institutional investors to maximize long-term value, including the value of common social, environmental and economic assets on which returns and stakeholder interests depend.  Stewardship and ESG incorporation calls for the inclusion of ESG factors in investment and capital alloc ...