GRESB survey closes soon

GRESB survey closes soonNew guidelines from GRESB aim to help investors identify and report outcomes achieved from investment in real estate green bonds, while the largest ever GRESB Survey closes on 1 July 2015.The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), which assesses the sustainability performance of real estate portfolios, has released Green Bond Guidelines for the Real Estate Sector to provide specific guidance for capital market participants when originating or investing in green bonds.Global green bond issuance tripled to $36.6 billion in 2014, with another tripling to $100 billion projected in 2015. To date, five major listed property companies, all of which participate in the annual GRESB benchmark, have issued green bonds. The guidelines specify reporting concepts, timing and metrics for green property bonds from origination to maturity, in accordance with established real estate industry protocols.According to GRESB’s chief executive officer, Nils Kok, “green bonds are attracting new types of capital, with market growth set to benefit developers, owners, investors, as well as the environment.” “As a new source of financing linked to environmental impacts, green property bonds have the potential to further enhance the sustainability performance of the global real estate sector.”Meanwhile, the 2015 GRESB Survey for real estate portfolios closes on 1 July 2015.In 2014, GRESB assessed 637 funds representing $2.1 trillion in property value. Participation in the survey has grown by 220 per cent since its launch in 2009.Australia had 44 participants in 2014, with a gross asset value of $131 billion. Survey results confirmed Australia/New Zealand as the leading region in terms of overall performance, with Lend Lease and ISPT included in a list of 11 global leaders.Survey participation enables companies to benchmark sustainability performance against industry peers, identify areas for improvement and report achievements to the investment community.