The integration of ESG considerations for both companies and investors is a much debated topic. The discussions often revolve around social responsibility, morality and investing for future generations. However, there is a growing school of thought that, in the long run, ESG integration can also have a positive impact on financial performance. Either way, as socially conscious environmental movements continue to gather momentum worldwide, it is sure to come under closer scrutiny.

In recent years, the focus of ESG efforts in real estate has largely been on controlling and reducing the emissions from energy usage. This has been scaled up in line with ambitious emission reduction targets, not least the European Commission’s long-term vision for climate neutrality by 2050. By most estimates, the built environment accounts for approximately 40 percent of EU energy consumption and, as a result, governments, local authorities and developers face a challenge to come up with methods