
ESG for start-ups and SMEs in real estate – where to start
The trend towards Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations has accelerated over the last two years. And much of this focus is on real estate. My focus here is on ESG for UK based start-ups and SMEs across the built environment. There’s good reason for this increased focus given that the built environment accounts for 39% of global carbon emissions. With the upsruge in extreme weather events globally, and with the impact of COVID-19, there is also now a much greater awareness of how our buildings and public spaces affect our health, our wellbeing, our communities, and indeed even our infrastructure. ESG in real estate has moved from niche to normal. This is a result of capital requirements, new and emerging regulatory requirements, and a growing demand from investors, clients and employees. And we’re seeing larger asset owners and investors take up the challenge. But from many of my conversations, it's clear that challenges remain for start-ups and SMEs. Taking action now...