ESG and Sustainability in Real Estate

ESG is a framework for assessing the behaviour and performance of organisations. In discussing ESG and Sustainability, many people often end up placing the majority of focus on the “E”, and sometimes neglect the “S”, and “G”.

This is hardly surprising, because Environmental issues often dominate headlines, are most widely understood, and are arguably the easiest to quantify, compared with Social and Governance considerations. It may therefore be no coincidence that the people who coined this term chose to place “E” first.

In this two-part video series, David Fogarty, Head of ESG Consulting and Sustainability Services, examines how ESG and Sustainability is a critical consideration for decision makers in Real Estate, and how all three issues can be applied in turn.

“(ESG) has come to prominence over the past two years. There is a realisation that it’s not just a moral or ethical issue, it also has financial and business risk implications across the range of Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria”, David says.

He further advises that real estate owners should “focus not just on energy and savings, but also circular economy issues, social issues such as health, wellbeing, connectivity, placemaking, and community.”

“You can’t fake it, as that will show”, David concludes.

Watch the videos as David discusses other related issues including:

• His observations on the level of interest in ESG within Real Estate in Singapore
• Where the interest is coming from
• The groups that have the greatest influence over the adoption of ESG principles in commercial real estate (no prizes for guessing employees are among one of the most influential)
• How we can include the “S” and “G” considerations to make things more comprehensive
• Green premium vs brown discount
• The role of ESG in attracting and retaining talent

IN FOCUS With David Fogarty - ESG in Real Estate Part 1

IN FOCUS With David Fogarty - ESG in Real Estate Part 2