After carrying out a pilot study on the level of public ESG disclosure of 71 listed infrastructure firms within the GLIO Global Coverage, our pilot’s preliminary results suggest the infrastructure asset class performs better overall in comparison with real estate.

On-site energy production, such as microgrids, cogeneration, fuel cells and solar and wind power, has tremendous potential to increase infrastructure and real estate cash flow by reducing energy bills, commanding higher rents and lowering operating expenses. It is a useful tool, among many, to migrate core investments to value-added and generate higher financial returns without increasing risk.

The trend toward implementing ESG — environment, social and governance — criteria has hit critical mass, and most investment organizations are at various stages of either installing or preparing ESG policies. But could the current hype surrounding ESG cloud an organization’s mission?

In New York City, IREI hosted a roundtable meeting with a cross section of the institutional infrastructure investment market, including U.S. and global pensions, funds of funds, placement agents, infrastructure investment managers and consultants. The organizations present were New York State Common Fund, First State Investments, Partners Group, National Pension Service of Korea, StepStone Group, Upper Bay Infrastructure, IFM Investors, New Jersey Treasury Office and Campbell Lutyens.