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Sustainability
More requirements from lenders and investors, regulations from governments and demands from stakeholders – the relevance for housing providers to show their corporate sustainability performance grows.
Sustainability is gaining in importance and traction in green and sustainable finance. Lenders and investors want to make a positive impact on society and the environment (climate mitigation and adaptation). Sustainable finance can be seen in a comprehensive way in addressing environmental, social and governance credentials, becoming part of the credit reviewing process.
National governments have legally committed to targets agreed upon during the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and are currently actively engaging all sectors of the economy to make their contribution to a low carbon economy.
Sustainability is increasingly inserting itself in everyone´s everyday activities. So much so that the housing industry is gearing up towards a low carbon economy, as stakeholders (tenants, regulators) request an accountable performance on sustainability. One way housing providers can showcase this is by issuing corporate sustainability reports on a regular basis.
Nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from the real estate sector. Almost 200 countries have committed to be climate neutral by 2050. Data availability and climate transition planning are hurdles for real estate net zero achievements.
Climate laws are becoming an investment risk: asset owners will be unable to sell or rent properties with a poor energy rating and refinancing and insurance costs will be linked to the energy efficiency of the property. Housing companies must address these risks in a timely manner.
For more than 10 years, RITTERWALD has established itself as the leading Pan-European strategy consultancy and first mover in sustainable housing — with solutions:
The publication of the 6th edition of RITTERWALD’s Sustainable Housing Outlook coincides with the European Federation for Living (EFL) semi-annual conference in the city of Leeds in northern England. It addresses the status of housing retrofit in selected countries, transition plans for reaching carbon emission reduction goals, sustainable finance and externally verified sustainability reports.
Edinburgh based Link Group’s continuous sustainability efforts enhance their corporate ESG credentials evidenced by RITTERWALD’s Certified Sustainable Housing Label.
As part of an explanatory online video series #BuildingCommunities about forward-thinking social and affordable housing initiatives, RITTERWALD showcases the impact of its Certified Sustainable Housing Label (CSHL).
This video was produced for us by BBC StoryWorks, the commercial content division of BBC Global News.
Clarion Housing Group, the UKs largest Housing Association, and since 2020 holder of the Certified Sustainable Housing Label, successfully issued £1bn of ESG bonds and loans to support their social purpose activities. As well as managing 110,000 social and affordable homes and developing over 2,000 homes a year, Clarion’s social purpose extends to Clarion Futures, a charitable foundation established to support its residents and develop their future.
The film highlights both the importance of housing companies attracting their own sources of private capital, and how the objectives of social and affordable housing organisations can align with investor aspirations. It is also a reminder of the ultimate beneficiaries of social and affordable housing, the tenants, and the contribution sub market housing makes to establishing well-functioning communities.
