Global ESG Disclosure Advances Rapidly as Investors Require Risk Assessment

The levels of ESG disclosures among real estate funds, companies and developers in Asia advanced rapidly in 2018, indicating that the market is responding to the increased amount of attention being placed on sustainability by institutional investors, according to the recently-released Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).

The global average GRESB Score increased again, reaching 68 (out of 100), with listed entities retaining their lead over the private sector. In addition to Asia, increases were seen across Europe, North America and Australia/NZ.

Entities in Japan and Hong Kong in particular are responding to the growing regulatory and market demands for increased ESG transparency, with a marked uptick in public ESG disclosure levels compared to 2017. The GRESB 2018 benchmark for 137 Asian real estate funds, companies and developers, on 75 institutional investors, saw an increase in score to 66, up from 63 in 2017.

Global Results

Overall, a record 903 real estate companies, funds and developers reported to GRESB covering more than 79,000 assets across 64 countries. This year’s benchmark saw increased asset-level reporting on ESG data by more…