The 10 Green Building Principles aiming to get real estate to net zero

Net zero commitments have surged this year as cities, investors, businesses and educational institutions signal their intent to help create a more sustainable future. This shared ambition, boosted by the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, indicates that we are moving in the right direction. But we need more. Next year must be when we turn talk into tangible action plans.

Real estate and the built environment – responsible for close to 40% of global carbon emissions – have a significant role to play. JLL’s Decarbonising the Built Environment report found that only 18% of organizations have an action plan for their real estate portfolio. While much attention is focused on new, state-of-the-art buildings that achieve the highest sustainability certifications, 70% of buildings that exist today will still be here in 2050, highlighting the need to repurpose spaces, retrofit older buildings and refurbish in line with circular economy principles.

Companies needed a roadmap to get their real estate to net zero carbon emissions. Now they have one. To guide real estate investors and occupiers on implementing and achieving their net zero carbon targets across their portfolios, JLL has partnered with the World Economic Forum to establish 10 Green Building Principles. It also complements existing initiatives, for example by explaining what companies need to do to deliver against the WorldGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

1. Adopting a data-driven approach

One of the first steps is knowing exactly what needs to be addressed. Businesses need to calculate a robust carbon footprint of their portfolios in the most recent representative year to inform targets.

2. Setting goals along the journey

The scale of the challenge facing us in the coming decades is daunting. It’s important that companies set a target year for achieving net-zero carbon as part of their longer-term strategy. This needs to be no later than 2050, though we’re seeing many companies and governments aim for sooner. Our new principles recommend interim targets for reducing at least 50% of these emissions by 2030.

3. Tackling embodied carbon

Businesses need to maximize emissions reductions for all new developments and major refurbishments in the pipeline to ensure delivery of net-zero carbon by their final target year.

Measuring and recording the embodied carbon emissions associated with the materials and construction processes for new developments and major refurbishments is essential. The World Green Building Council estimates it will account for half of the entire carbon footprint of new construction between now and 2050. Reducing it through measures such as low-carbon materials, modular construction and implementing a circular economy approach will be a critical factor in real estate’s ability to reach net zero.

4. Focusing on clean energy

Reducing the energy buildings consume is central to a net zero future. This means businesses need to drive energy optimization across both existing assets and new developments. They also need to maximize the supply of on-site renewable energy, and make sure all off-site energy is procured from renewable-backed sources where available.

Any residual emissions need to be compensated for by purchasing high-quality carbon offsets. A lot of guidance has come out in the past year, but there’s more to come, especially through the SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard.

5. Collaborating widely

Reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is going to require teamwork at nearly every stage. Our principles call for engaging with stakeholders in the value chain to reduce Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions in the wider value chain). Businesses also need to develop more partnerships to better identify opportunities and equitably share the costs and benefits of interventions.

There is no time to waste. Investors and occupiers need to deliver against the commitments they have boldly laid out in the last year. With the 10 Green Principles framework, it’s no longer a question of how can we reach net zero, but how can we push ourselves to get there faster. Let’s build on the momentum and make 2022 the year that real estate turns commitments into action.