Zurich – Together with the ZHAW School of Management and Law, Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF) has developed specific guidelines for investing in real estate that are in line with ESG criteria for sustainability. They are intended to contribute to the decarbonization of the real estate sector.
With its new publication, SSF offers a guide on how sustainability factors can be integrated into direct real estate investments. According to a press release, the SSF Spotlight publication entitled Sustainable Real Estate Investments offers concrete guidance on how investment decisions can be brought into line with the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria for sustainable business. It is also intended to provide orientation in the diverse landscape of labels, benchmarking and monitoring tools. The publication was produced in collaboration with the ZHAW School of Management and Law of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences(ZHAW).
SSF points out that residential and commercial buildings are responsible for almost a quarter of Switzerland’s CO2 emissions. And she emphasizes that incorporating sustainability into real estate brings numerous benefits: higher rental income, lower vacancy rates, improved operational efficiency of real estate investments and portfolios and attractive economic positioning.
“Given that Switzerland has now legally committed to the net zero target, it is crucial for real estate investors to develop clear strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of their portfolio,” SSF CEO Sabine Döbeli is quoted as saying. In addition, the integration of ESG factors into risk analyses can reduce risks, increase resilience to environmental and market fluctuations and contribute to a more stable investment environment. ce/mm
