As part of the Navigating Net Zero webinar series, this session focused on the unique challenges and regulatory expectations of the real estate and construction sector when it comes to ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting and carbon accounting.
Understanding the ESG Landscape in Real Estate
Real estate companies and construction firms face overlapping sustainability mandates—some directed at individual buildings, and others at the corporate entity level.
Building-Level Requirements:
- National Building Codes (e.g., NBC India, BCA Singapore)
- Energy Codes (e.g., ECBC India, EPBD Europe)
- Environmental Clearances for new/brownfield constructions
- Voluntary Certifications like LEED, IGBC, WELL, Fitwel
Company-Level ESG Requirements:
- India: BRSR & BRSR Core for listed companies
- Europe: CSRD and SFDR, especially for REITs and institutional investors
- Middle East: Estidama Pearl Rating (UAE), Saudi Vision 2030 ESG guidelines
- Global Benchmarks: GRESB (for REITs), MSCI, Moody’s ESG ratings
Key ESG Regulations for Real Estate
India:
- BRSR: Mandatory for top 1000 listed companies
- BRSR Core: Assurance for ESG KPIs starting with top 250
- Green Building Incentives from municipalities
Middle East:
- UAE: Estidama Pearl Rating (mandatory)
- 2025 UAE Net Zero Law: Upcoming, includes GHG accounting
- Saudi Arabia: ESG alignment via Vision 2030
Carbon Accounting for Real Estate & Construction
Scope 3 is typically the largest contributor in this industry:
- Scope 1: On-site fuel use, HVAC leaks, transport
- Scope 2: Purchased electricity, PPAs
- Scope 3: Materials, tenant energy, commuting, waste
Scope 3 often represents 80–90% of total emissions.
Boundary Setting in Carbon Accounting
- Organizational Boundaries: Use equity, financial, or operational control methods
- Operational Boundaries: Define activities for each emission scope
Challenges & Best Practices
- Regulatory Complexity: Break standards like CSRD into chunks; upskill teams
- Conceptual Confusion: Clarify Scope 3, offsets, benchmarks (GHG Protocol, CDP)
- Data Collection: Use templates and align formats
- Emission Factors: Use IPCC, DEFRA, CEA India, IEA sources
- Tracking Progress: Use digital tools for real-time models
Steps to Successful Carbon Accounting
- Define Organizational and Operational Boundaries
- Choose Methodology: Spend-based, Activity-based, Hybrid
- Collect Activity Data (e.g., kWh, liters, tons)
- Apply Correct Emission Factors
- Use Software Tools for Tracking & Reporting
- Assure and Validate Data for compliance (e.g., BRSR Core, CSRD)
Tools & Platforms: Sustainium Example
Platforms like Sustainium help with:
- Automated Scope 1, 2, 3 tracking
- BRSR-compliant reports
- Integrated ESG dashboards
- Forecasting for net-zero targets
Conclusion: Building Towards a Net-Zero Future
With the right systems, frameworks, and tools in place, real estate and construction companies can lead the transition to a sustainable, climate-resilient future.