GRESB newsletter: Special events edition

This year marks 15 years of GRESB’s commitment to working to drive the sustainability performance of real assets. To mark the occasion, we would like to take a moment and invite you to join our Global Results event, taking place online on Tuesday, October 15.

We look forward to sharing the insights, trends, and benchmarks that are shaping the real assets industry, and the 60-minute GRESB Global Results event promises to bring a forward-looking view on the key priorities needed to build a sustainable and resilient future.

Here’s what to expect:

• Evolution of impact | Nils Kok   
  From the foundation of GRESB and the state of the market 15 years ago, Nils will explore impact in real asset investing and what the future of the industry could look like.
• State of the market: Regional trends and global impact | Chris Pyke & Sarah Blankfield  
  Assessing the global GRESB Benchmark results, we will focus on key trends and discuss how these can be addressed in terms of interpretation, impact, and alignment between the Standard and Foundation direction.
• GRESB participation & financial returns | Nils Kok and Avis Devine  
  This discussion will shed light onto how financial performance and environmental performance on the asset level go hand-in-hand and consider the link between sustainability strategies and financial performance.
• The future comes into focus | Sarah Welton, Parag Cameron-Rastogi, Vincent Felteau, Maarten Jennen, and Alison Schneider  
  A forward-looking panel which will explore how the industry can collectively tackle climate goals and drive sustainability.
• GRESB Innovations and initiatives for 2025 and beyond | Special GRESB Staff segment

Register for the event here. If you cannot make one of the available time slots, which coincide with the publication of aggregated public benchmark data for real estate and infrastructure, you can watch the recording afterwards.

For any questions, please contact us.

Alongside the Global Results event, the in-person GRESB Regional Insights events will bring together the real assets community to discuss the most pressing issues affecting the market today while highlighting leadership in action, best practices across our community, and the regional highlights from the annual GRESB Benchmark.

Co-hosted by GRESB Partners, the 30+ Regional Insights events will provide opportunities to engage with industry experts, network with like-minded professionals, and gain valuable knowledge to advance the industry’s sustainability goals. We are proud to co-host this year’s series with our valued partners who help shape the global conversation around the future of responsible investing.

Explore confirmed locations and register your interest now — limited spots available!

Foundation stakeholder engagement 

The GRESB Foundation recognizes the importance of collecting market feedback from its stakeholders, and we continue to plan regional events around the world to ensure the evolution of the Standards is informed by your perspective. Upcoming events included:

• Investor Masterclasses: 
  Learn about effective sustainable investing and engagement strategies: Toronto (October 8) and NYC (November 14)
• Value Add Roundtables: 
  Discuss ways that GRESB can better support value add investments: Toronto (October 8) and NYC (November 14)
• Decarbonization Roundtables: 
  Explore how GRESB can effectively communicate decarbonization efforts: Toronto (October 8), NYC (October 24) and London (November 6)

Foundation Board and Standards Committees call for applicants 

The Foundation continues to accept applications to join the Foundation Board, Real Estate and Infrastructure Standards Committees, as well as the Expert Resource Groups. We need several new members to be added to the FB, RESC and ISC before the end of the year.

To express an interest in joining any of the above events, or to get in touch with the Foundation Board, please reach out to [email protected].

Asia Pacific Real Assets Leaders’ Congress | October 15-17 | Tokyo, Japan
Cross-border capital flows in Asia Pacific have shown a rebound this year, as investors capitalized on Asia Pacific’s relatively strong economic fundamentals and attractive pricing opportunities across markets and asset classes. This event focuses on various investment opportunities in a multipolar world.

Sustainability Data EMEA | October 17 | London, UK
This one-day event returns to offer attendees unraveled insight from leading experts in the field on all aspects of the ESG data industry. Alex Clark (Research Director, Asset Impact) will be speaking at the event.

Decarbonising by 2030: time to get practical | October 17 | Online
This event provides you with an introduction to assess and implement your decarbonization plan, allowing you to confidently look ahead to 2030 and beyond.

See the events calendar for a full overview of all upcoming events.

The theme this month was Sustainable Electrification & Grid Interactivity.

• Carbon accounting in real estate | Scaler
  The article explores how carbon accounting in real estate, supported by data platforms, enhances emissions tracking and meets regulatory requirements.
• Find the opportunity in Nature Impacts Disclosure | Cundall
  What is the rising importance of nature impact disclosure for real asset investors, driven by frameworks like the TNFD? Discover how regulations are pushing the property sector to consider biodiversity and natural capital in investment decisions.
• The synergy between building electrification and smart grid innovation | CodeGreen Sustainability
  Explore how building electrification and smart grid technology, exemplified by grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs), can work together to enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve grid resilience.
• The essential guide to electrifying your existing building | Stok
  Key strategies for electrifying existing buildings, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, overcoming technical and financial hurdles, and meeting new regulations like the SEC climate disclosures and New York City’s Carbon Tax Law.

Interested in contributing? The topic for September is Operational Efficiency. See the editorial calendar for details.

GRESB is growing and looking for new people! Please feel free to share our most recently added open positions with your network:

• Marketing Operations Lead | Amsterdam
• Business Development Manager | Amsterdam or Berlin
• Director, Infrastructure – Product | Amsterdam
• Junior Controller | Amsterdam

Open positions for Asset Impact:

• Business Development Manager, EMEA | Paris / London

• ISSB delivers further harmonisation of the sustainability disclosure landscape as it embarks on new work plan | IFRS
• Lendlease JV Tops Out NY State’s Largest Residential Geothermal Building | Connect CRE
• Huge Majority Of DFW Renters Don’t Care About High-End Amenities, New Survey Shows | Bisnow
• New sustainable finance guide launched | NZGBC
• ESG is dead. Long live ESG | Financial Times