The property sector needs a standardised methodology for embodied carbon emissions

Coordinated effort needed

The real estate sector, as one of the largest comparative emitters of carbon, accounts for approximately a third of the world’s emissions, according to the World Green Building Council (GBC).

Progress towards meeting net-zero targets is advancing, with market leading listed property companies demonstrating robust reporting standards, and a general consensus that doing nothing is no longer an option. But there is still a need for a coordinated effort to bring the real estate sector in line with the Paris Agreement. However, there is not yet a standardised methodology for the sector to measure its full scope of emissions from embodied carbon associated with modernisation programmes. Although some listed property companies demonstrate advanced carbon reporting standards in...