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Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) publishes 10 building principles to get real estate to net zero, and modular construction is firmly on the list.
Christian Ulbrich, global CEO and president of JLL writes:
Net-zero commitments have surged recently 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. This year we must turn talk into tangible action plans and get started.
Real estate and the built environment – responsible for close to 40% of global carbon emissions – have a significant role to play. Yet JLL’s Decarbonising the Built Environment report found that only 18% of organisations have a plan for decarbonizing 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 and a related action plan that lays out the steps for implementation.
The Principles complement existing initiatives by explaining what companies need to do to deliver against their commitments such as the WorldGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, or others within the Race to Zero.
The Principles also include reporting guidance to help companies measure progress and ensure they are making meaningful annual carbon reductions that will allow them to meet their established climate targets.
The 10 Green Building Principles cover five key areas:
There is no time to waste. Investors and occupiers need to deliver against the commitments they have boldly made. With the 10 Green Principles framework, it’s no longer a question of how we can reach net zero, but how we can push ourselves to get there faster. I urge leaders to adopt the Principles and make 2022 the year that real estate turns commitments into action.
See: https://www.jll.co.uk/en/trends-and-insights/research/decarbonizing-the-built-environment
Reproduced from the World Economic Forum.