Investors are placing a stronger emphasis on including environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria in their investment strategies, according to CBRE Research’s Asia Pacific Investor Intentions Survey 2021. Nearly half of respondents — primarily from Singapore, Australia and Western markets — indicated they had already adopted ESG criteria in their investment strategies, with almost 10 percent planning to adopt ESG criteria within the next three to five years, and about 30 percent considering taking on ESG criteria.

According to the report, regulatory and tenant requirements are driving the increase in embracing ESG criteria. A greater number of institutional investors, especially Europe-based investors, now have required mandates to purchase assets with ESG certification or to commit capital to funds that invest in such assets.

Top 10 sustainability issues for real estate

A new report from the Urban Land Institute’s