Net-zero pledges are now a fixture in global real estate. ESG metrics dominate annual reports, and sustainability-linked assets appear in almost every investment strategy.

Yet behind these commitments, progress remains slow, particularly in North America and Asia Pacific, where the gap between ambition and delivery is becoming more difficult to ignore. Delays are no longer just missed targets, they are mounting liabilities. As financial, operational and reputational risks continue to increase, compounded by energy security challenges and growing concerns over asset devaluation, greater urgency is needed to translate ambition into action.

According to Verdantix’s latest Building Decarbonisation Barometer, based on responses from 300 real estate leaders worldwide, property owners in the office, retail and healthcare sectors are still significantly underinvested. Office portfolios in the United States alone face a total funding shortfall of US$1.1 trillion. At the indiv