Here’s a list of the most common sustainability / ESG related acronyms I encounter when working with clients across real assets.
This list will be regularly updated, so let me know if there are others you’d like to see added!
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BECD – Built Environment Carbon Database (UK) [Website]
BREEAM – Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method [Website]
BRSR – Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (India) [Website]
CBAM – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU) [Website]
CDP – Carbon Disclosure Project (Global) [Website]
COP – Conference of the Parties [Website]
CRREM – Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor [Website]
CSDDD – Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU) [Website]
CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
CSRD – Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) [Website]
DEI – Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
DMA – Double Materiality Assessment
DR – Disclosure requirement
EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment
EFRAG – European Financial Reporting Advisory Group [Website]
EMS – Environmental Management System
EPBD – Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) [Website]
EPC – Energy Performance Certificate
ESG – Environmental, social, governance
EPRA sBPR – European Public Real Estate Association Sustainability Best Practices Recommendations (Europe) [Website]
ESRS – European Sustainability Reporting Standards (EU) [Website]
EU Taxonomy – EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities [Website]
GFANZ – Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero (Global) [Website]
GHG – Greenhouse gases, or the GHG Protocol [Website]
GREEN – Global Real Estate Engagement Network [Website]
GRESB – formerly known as the “Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark”, now just GRESB (Global) [Website]
GRI– Global Reporting Initiative (Global) [Website]
H&S – Health and Safety
IFRS – International Financial Reporting Standards [Website]
INREV ESG SDDS – European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles Environmental, Social, Governance Standard Data Delivery Sheet [Website]
IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Website]
IROs – Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities
ISO – International Organization for Standardization [Website]
ISSB – International Sustainability Standards Board (Global) [Website]
LCA – Life Cycle Assessment
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification
MA – Materiality Assessment
MEES – Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard
NABERS – National Australian Built Environment Rating System [Website]
NFRD – Non Financial Reporting Directive (EU) [Website]
NZE – Net Zero Emissions
PCAF – Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (Global) [Website]
PRI/UNPRI – Principles for Responsible Investment [Website]
QMS – Quality Management System
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
SASB – Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (Global) [Website]
SBTi – Science Based Targets initiative (Global) [Website]
SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals (see also UN SDGs) [Website]
SDR – Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (UK) [Website]
SEC – Securities Exchange Commission (US) [Website]
SFDR – Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (EU) [Website]
SRI – Socially Responsible Investment
SRO – Senior Responsible Officer
TCFD – Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (Global) [Website]
TNFD – Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (Global) [Website]
UNGP – United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights [Website]
UKNZCBS – UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard [Website]
UN SDGs – United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (Global) [Website]
VUCA – volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity
WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development [Website]
WELL – WELL Building Certification [Website]
WGBC – World Green Building Council [Website] [Note: there are a number of country specific Green Building Councils which are part of the network]
WLC(A) – Whole Life Carbon (Assessment) [Website]
WRI – World Resources Institute [Website]
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