Whole life carbon: How to measure and manage building emissions in real estate portfolios

Year Published

2023

Contributing Organizations

Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)

Type of Resource

Research/Insights Report

Languages

English

Relevant Topics

Core Topic

Buildings & Real Estate

Topic 2

Disclosure Standards

Topic 3

Transition Planning & Implementation Capabilities

Target Audience

Asset Owners

Asset Managers

Real Economy Corporates

Private Equity

Advisors & Consultants

Relevant Geography

Global

Europe

North America

Asia & the Pacific

Resource Description

This resource guides real estate investors on using a whole life carbon (WLC) approach to measure and reduce building emissions across both construction and operation phases.

Why This Matters

With buildings contributing ~40% of global emissions, WLC approaches are essential for real estate portfolios to meet net zero targets.

Key Insights

Embodied carbon from materials and construction can represent up to two-thirds of a building’s emissions
Recommends WLC assessments, target-setting, long-term strategies, and transparent reporting
Includes case studies showing practical low-carbon design and retrofit strategies
Emphasizes the need for supportive policy and investor leadership in driving decarbonization

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