The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) welcomes four new additions to its Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment: Siemens AG, City Developments Limited, Charter Hall and NEO Property Management Inc.

LONDON – 9am GMT, 11 February 2021 – Today, WorldGBC announces four new companies as signatories to its Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment), signalling global industry leadership to decarbonise the built environment and combat climate change. The Commitment now has a total of 132 signatories, with 98 businesses & organisations, 28 cities and six states & regions. The businesses and organisations signed up to the Commitment now account for over 5 million (tCO2e) of portfolio emissions.

The support and ambition from companies such as these is crucial as WorldGBC and its partners build momentum to a historic ‘Built Environment and Cities Day’ at COP26.

Two of the new signatories, Siemens AG and City Developments Limited (CDL), are active members of WorldGBC’s Corporate Advisory Board, and are driving this ambition to accelerate their building portfolios to a net zero future.

Siemens AG

Siemens AG have signed the Commitment as both an owner and tenant of over 2,000 assets to operate at net zero carbon by 2030. The global company focuses on intelligent infrastructure for buildings and decentralised energy systems, automation and digitalisation in the process and manufacturing industries, and smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport.

They will continue to implement a decarbonisation plan that incorporates energy efficiency measures, as well as on-site renewable energy infrastructure and procurement of renewable energy for buildings and industrial processes.

CDL

CDL is a global real estate company with a presence in 106 locations in 29 countries and regions. Already recognised as one of the most sustainable global companies, CDL has formally committed to only owning and developing net zero carbon operational assets under direct control by 2030. They will continue to focus on energy efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption in the design, construction and operations of assets. They will also explore adopting 100% renewable energy through on-site production and procurement of renewable energy credits or carbon offsetting as a last resort.

Charter Hall

Charter Hall, is one of Australia’s leading fully integrated property groups with a AUD$45 billion portfolio of high quality, long-leased assets across the office, industrial & logistics, retail and social infrastructure sectors. With more than 1,300 properties leased to more than 4,500 tenancies they have a longstanding commitment to sustainability and maintain Australia’s largest Green Star footprint. By signing the Commitment they have committed to assets under their direct control to operate at net zero by 2030. Charter Hall will make all assets more energy efficient, invest in renewable infrastructure and renewable procurement, whilst offsetting residual emissions through high-quality carbon offsets.

NEO 

NEO is a recognised sustainable real estate group in the Philippines with a portfolio of seven 5-star certified office buildings under BERDE, the country’s nationally accepted voluntary green building rating system. NEO has set ambitious interim targets of achieving net zero energy by 2025 and an overall 50% reduction of carbon emissions from assets within its direct control by 2030. They will achieve these by developing and implementing a zero carbon programme which utilises 100% renewable energy sources and energy efficiency strategies.

The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment 

As the leading initiative focused on climate action in the built environment, the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment continues to grow exponentially. Complementing initiatives such as the Race To Zero and Science Based Targets, the Commitment’s signatories take action to achieve an operationally net zero carbon portfolio by 2030 or earlier, and demonstrate annual progress via reporting and verification protocols. For eligible signatories, the Commitment acts as a pathway to membership of the global EP100 initiative from the Climate Group. EP100 brings together energy-smart companies doing more with less energy to lower emissions and improve their productivity.

Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council:

“As WorldGBC and our partners work to ensure that buildings take centre stage at COP26 through a monumental ‘Built Environment and Cities Day’, we are thrilled to welcome more signatories to the Commitment. In recognition of their pioneering market leadership and dedication to net zero, these organisations demonstrate the radical collaboration we need to secure a sustainable and more equitable future. The next step is to show how these targets are applied in practice to build resilience towards the impacts of the climate crisis.”

Helen Clarkson, CEO, the Climate Group:

“This is the Climate Decade – science shows we need to move fast to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Around 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings and, if left unchecked, they’re set to double by 2050. Big business has a vital role to play in cleaning up the built environment, and improving energy efficiency is key. We welcome Siemens and CDL to the global EP100 initiative for energy-smart companies and look forward to following their progress.”

Ruth Gratzke, President of Siemens Smart Infrastructure US:

“Siemens is committed to improving both our customers’ and our own energy productivity and efficiency. As the newest member of the EP100 coalition, we look forward to joining other leading companies in the mission to accelerate the use of energy management systems, clean energy sources and smart building technologies.”

Mr Sherman Kwek, CDL Group Chief Executive Officer:

“CDL recognises that decarbonisation is a critical step towards global climate action and this is especially relevant to the building and construction sector which accounts for a significant amount of carbon emissions. Our pledge to the WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment marks a key milestone in our sustainability journey as we take affirmative action to support the global agenda towards net zero by 2050. Taking this bold step forward reinforces our climate mitigation and adaptation efforts to build a more sustainable future in Singapore and abroad.”

Mr David Harrison, Charter Hall Group CEO & Managing Director:

“The property sector has a crucial role to play in making a positive difference to the environment and creating better futures. As one of Australia’s largest property and funds management companies, we continue to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions across our portfolio. By signing up to the WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and focusing on climate action in the built environment, we’re making progress on our own goal of Scope 1 and 2 net zero emissions by 2030.”

Mr. Raymond D. Rufino, Chief Executive Officer, NEO:

“The severity of our current climate crisis requires a commensurate response and commitment from real estate owners, developers, and managers: NET ZERO. This is a difficult and ambitious commitment for NEO as we are a real estate company based in an emerging market. However, we firmly believe that we can and must play our part in this global collective effort. We are wholeheartedly joining and supporting WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and encourage all other real estate firms to heed the call and make the commitment.”

 

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MEDIA CONTACT

Rebecca Moir, Digital Marketing Coordinator, World Green Building Council

media@worldgbc.org

 

Editor’s Notes

The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment comes from Advancing Net Zero, WorldGBC’s global project to accelerate uptake of net zero carbon buildings to 100% by 2050. The project works with the global Green Building Council network to develop tools and resources, including net zero carbon buildings certification schemes and training programmes.

The Commitment was launched in September 2018 at the Global Climate Action Summit. It promotes and inspires leadership action on an advanced trajectory from business, governments and NGOs, to scale up responses to net zero carbon buildings through corporate and policy action.

See the full profiles of company signatories and what they are committing to here: https://worldgbc.org/commitment-signatories

About the World Green Building Council

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) catalyses the uptake of sustainable buildings for everyone, everywhere.

Transforming the building and construction sector across three strategic areas—climate action, health & wellbeing, and resources & circularity—we are a global action network comprised of around 70 Green Building Councils around the globe.

As members of the UN Global Compact, we work with businesses, organisations and governments to drive the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Through a systems change approach, our network is leading the industry towards a net zero carbon, healthy, equitable and resilient built environment.

www.worldgbc.org

About EP100

EP100 is a global initiative by the Climate Group, bringing together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to doing more with less to improve their energy productivity. Members are driving tech innovation and reducing emissions while making substantial cost savings and improving competitiveness – inspiring others to follow their lead. EP100 is delivered in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy and in association with the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. #EP100

Signatories of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment also include leading state and regional governments in the Under2 Coalition, of which the Climate Group is Secretariat.