GRESB ESG benchmarks grow to cover USD 8.8 trillion and shed light on net-zero momentum across real estate and infrastructure globally 

Amsterdam, October 17, 2023 – GRESB, the global ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure investments, has released the results of its 2023 Assessments, which grew to include 2,084 real estate portfolios and 172 infrastructure funds and 687 assets, collectively representing USD 8.8 trillion in gross asset value (GAV).

“Benchmark growth across real estate and infrastructure this year is not just about numbers—it’s about the depth, breadth and usefulness of the data. This increasing dedication and awareness of data quality demonstrates the commitment of global real assets to transparency and sustainability on a broader scale,” said Sebastien Roussotte, CEO at GRESB.

In 2023, GRESB also increased the granularity of the information it collects on net zero, ranging from net-zero policies to commitments and targets, enabling the tracking of this data for the first time.

• Participation in GRESB Real Estate Benchmark jumped by 15% in 2023, growing to cover 2,084 listed and non-listed portfolios representing approximately USD 7.2 trillion of GAV across 75 countries and regions.
• Growth was particularly strong in Oceania and Asia, while markets like Europe and the Americas continued with steady growth rates.
• In relative terms, Oceania stood out as the fastest-growing region, recording a sharp 23% year-over-year increase in participation. On a global scale, Europe led the pack with the highest number of new participants, rising from 907 to 1,013.
• At the market level, the United States recorded the highest number of new participants (up from 380 to 433), while participation in Taiwan increased by 900% year over year, growing from one entity to 10.
• Average GRESB scores increased by a point to 75 for the Standing Investments Benchmark and by two points to 83 in the Development Benchmark.

• 72% of global real estate participants have a net-zero policy in place, with 93% of participants in Oceania reporting a net-zero policy, followed by Asia and Europe with 78% and 77%, respectively.
• Despite most participants reporting a net-zero policy, only 56% of global participants have made a public net-zero commitment and 50% have established a net-zero target.

• The Infrastructure Fund Assessment grew to cover 172 funds and the Infrastructure Asset Assessment to include 687 assets across 72 countries and regions. The Infrastructure Benchmark now covers approximately USD 393 billion of GAV at the fund level and USD 1.2 trillion of GAV at the asset level for a total of approximately USD 1.6 trillion of GAV.
• Facilities in the Infrastructure Benchmark jumped by 15% compared to 2022, increasing from 2,481 to 2,851 across 37 sectors.
• In relative terms, both Oceania and the Americas displayed the steepest growth, recording 10% and 11% year-over-year increases in participation, respectively. In absolute terms, EMEA remains the most represented region in the Benchmark with more than 350 assets.
• At the market level, Korean assets increased again this year to include 19 entities, marking a 26% year-over-year increase.
• Average GRESB scores for assets jumped by four points to 83 and for funds by one point to 83.
• GRESB Infrastructure Members continue to deepen their data coverage, with an increasing number of participants now reporting on key metrics such as Air Pollution, Biodiversity & Habitat, Waste and Employees engagement.

• 60% of global infrastructure assets reported a net-zero policy in 2023, with Oceania and Europe leading the way with 65% of participants in both regions having a net-zero policy in place.
• While only 40% of global assets reported net-zero commitments, 60% have already set net-zero targets.
• At the fund level, 68% of reporting funds have a net-zero policy in place, while 70% have already shared net-zero commitments and 60% set net-zero targets.

“Net zero in real assets is not merely a goal, but a necessity. It requires a collective commitment to reduce carbon footprints and drive sustainability in the built environment. GRESB participants stand at the forefront of this movement, actively implementing strategies, setting targets and integrating sustainable practices to accelerate progress towards a net-zero future,” said Roussotte.

View the 2023 Benchmark public results here.

Watch our GRESB Global Results Event, live today or on-demand at your convenience, to get insights into benchmark data. Sign up here.

GRESB is a mission-driven and industry-led organization providing standardized and validated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data to financial markets. Established in 2009, GRESB has become the leading ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure investments across the world, used by 150 institutional and financial investors to inform decision-making. For more information, visit GRESB.com.

Media contact:

Tyler Guthrie
Director of Communications, GRESB
[email protected]