CBRE, including CBRE Investment Management, are First Commercial Real Estate Services and Investment Management Firm to join Influential Sustainability Alliance the Aldersgate Group

Global real estate advisor, CBRE, in close collaboration with CBRE Investment Management (“CBRE IM”) has secured membership of the Aldersgate Group, a politically impartial, multi-stakeholder alliance of leading businesses and organisations championing a competitive and environmentally sustainable economy. CBRE are the first commercial real estate services and investment management firm to secure membership, which involves a rigorous application process and robust assessment. CBRE IM along with CBRE Advisory will lead on CBRE’s engagement with Aldersgate Group.

Chaired by former prime minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, the Aldersgate Group is a membership organisation composed of some of the largest businesses in the UK, leading NGOs, professional institutes and academic institutions. Its members, which include Macquarie, KPMG, John Lewis, UKGBC, WWF and Siemens, are recognised as leaders in sustainability, with membership limited to three corporate representatives per sector.

Membership of the Aldersgate Group underlines CBRE and CBRE IM’s over-arching commitment to sustainability as part of their business models and strategies. Last year, CBRE set out its plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040 encompassing carbon emissions from CBRE’s own operations and the properties it manages for investors and occupiers, as well as indirect supply chain emissions.

Meanwhile CBRE IM, which has $141.9 billion in assets under management, will achieve net-zero operational carbon performance by 2040 for its directly managed, long-term operational core investments. This forms a key element of CBRE IM’s Sustainability Vision, which also commits to championing diversity, equity & inclusion and the well-being of people and to influencing others to join in these ambitions.

Elements of CBRE’s application that were recognised by Aldersgate Group in securing membership included their Climate Pledge, the business ambition for 1.5C, their Climate donation of $7.25 million, and their market leading family friendly policies. CBRE were also able to demonstrate firsthand how they lead by example with the recent refurbishment of their headquarters at Henrietta House, London. With sustainability and wellness at the forefront of the design, the office has been certified BREEAM Excellent and Well Platinum.

Robbie Epsom, EMEA Head of ESG at CBRE Investment Management, said: “We are incredibly proud to become the first commercial real estate services and investment management firm to join the hugely influential Aldersgate Group. Real estate and infrastructure are among the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions and the real asset industry has a vital role to play in tackling climate change. Achieving membership of the Aldersgate Group not only underscores CBRE IM’s commitment to achieve net zero but demonstrates our resolve to take a position of leadership on ESG within the industry and accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.”

Kaela Fenn-Smith, Managing Director, ESG Consultancy and Sustainability Services at CBRE added: “CBRE is delighted to be recognised as sector leaders by the Aldersgate Group for our ESG commitments and climate action. We welcome the opportunity as members of the Aldersgate Group to champion sustainability not only in real estate but in collaboration with the cross-sector membership to influence the broader economy.”

Nick Molho, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said: “The property sector is critically important to the UK’s ability to build a modern, climate resilient and net zero emissions economy. The built environment is estimated to be responsible for 25% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions [1], so ambitious action from business and policymakers in this area is an urgent priority to put the UK on track for its climate targets. Cutting emissions in the UK’s homes and buildings can also create a significant number of jobs around the country as existing buildings are retrofitted and new buildings are developed to the highest levels of energy efficiency and the lowest carbon footprint. I am delighted to welcome CBRE to the Aldersgate Group, their expertise across all areas of the real estate sector, their market size and clear commitment to a science-based net zero target will all be crucial assets as we continue to advocate for the rapid decarbonisation of the built environment. This is also a significant statement of intent from a major industry player that can drive significant positive change across the sector.”

[1] UKGBC, Whole Life Carbon Roadmap (2021) https://www.ukgbc.org/climate-change-2/

About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2021 revenue). The company has more than 105,000 employees (excluding Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

About CBRE Investment Management
CBRE Investment Management is a leading global real assets investment management firm with $141.9 billion in assets under management* as of December 31, 2021, operating in more than 30 offices and 20 countries around the world. Through its investor-operator culture, the firm seeks to deliver sustainable investment solutions across real assets categories, geographies, risk profiles and execution formats so that its clients, people and communities thrive.

CBRE Investment Management is an independently operated affiliate of CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2021 revenue). CBRE has more than 105,000 employees (excluding Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE Investment Management harnesses CBRE’s data and market insights, investment sourcing and other resources for the benefit of its clients. For more information, please visit www.cbreim.com.

*Assets under management (AUM) refers to the fair market value of real assets-related investments with respect to which CBRE Investment Management provides, on a global basis, oversight, investment management services and other advice and which generally consist of investments in real assets; equity in funds and joint ventures; securities portfolios; operating companies and real assets-related loans. This AUM is intended principally to reflect the extent of CBRE Investment Management’s presence in the global real assets market, and its calculation of AUM may differ from the calculations of other asset managers and from its calculation of regulatory assets under management for purposes of certain regulatory filings.

About the Aldersgate Group
The Aldersgate Group is an alliance of leaders from business, academia and civil society that drives action for a sustainable economy. Our members include some of the largest businesses in the UK with a collective global turnover of over £550bn, leading NGOs, professional institutes, and academic institutions. Our mission is to trigger the change in policy required to address environmental challenges effectively and secure economic benefits for the UK in doing so.