ESG Reporting Best Practices for CRE Asset Managers
Aligning with Global Reporting Standards
Task Force on Climate‑Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Report governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics/targets. Include climate scenario analysis and transition risk.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
Use Real Estate and Building Products standards to define material topics and consistent metrics for investors.
Building an ESG Reporting Calendar
Quarterly vs. Annual Disclosures
Quarterly: operational dashboards, progress against targets, notable incidents.
Annual: formal ESG report with assurance, methodology, and portfolio analysis.
Internal Review and Audit Processes
Create a review cadence: data owners submit quarterly, ESG lead consolidates monthly, legal/compliance review prior to release. Use checklists and version control.
Engaging Stakeholders in Reporting
Investor Communications
Provide a one‑page ESG fact sheet, track Q&A, and align KPIs to investor priorities (risk, resilience, yield).
Tenant and Community Outreach
Publish IAQ and energy progress, share green lease options, and invite tenants to waste audits and transit programs.
Visualizing ESG Data
Infographics and Dashboards
Use clear trendlines for EUI/WUI and stacked charts for waste streams. Keep axes consistent; label units and baselines.
Storytelling with Data
Pair a metric with the operational action that drove it. A 10% EUI reduction is more compelling when you explain the retrocommissioning steps.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Over‑collecting data without action: select 8–12 core metrics.
Inconsistent boundaries: clearly define building, portfolio, and tenant scopes.
No QA process: implement automated checks and manual sampling.
Template Sections for Your ESG Report
Strategy and Governance
Risk and Opportunity (incl. climate scenarios)
Metrics and Targets
Asset Highlights and Case Studies
Methodology and Assurance