Redefining Sustainability Through Future-Proof Real Estate Investments

This WDBE Talks podcast episode is a prelude to the pitchfest, WWF Life EconomisE KIRA-challenge, that takes place on May 19, 2020, in Helsinki and online. It’s a WDBE 2020 Pre-event, in which WWF is partnering with KIRAHub and RAKLI to find cutting-edge solutions that can support institutional investors and real estate owners in future-proofing their investment portfolios. Aarni Heiskanen’s guest are * Jussi Nikula, Head of Ecological Footprint Programme at WWF Finland* Anna Hyrske, Head of Responsible investments at Ilmarinen, Finland’s oldest pension company* Eero Sihvonen, CFO at Citycon, a leading owner, manager and developer of mixed-use centers for urban living including retail, office space and housing We discuss, among others, what climate-proofing means and what investors can do are doing to reach the ambitious emission and climate goals. About the challenge WWF is striving for change that ensures that basically every real estate investment from now on would be ‘future-proof’. At present, the energy efficiency investments are not happening at the pace and scale needed. The different players of the real estate sector must step up to overcome the challenge. The institutional investors and real estate companies must go way beyond the business-as-usual level of energy efficiency improvements guided by the existing legislation. First and foremost, we need to ask what is adequate in light of the pressing urgency informed by climate science. WWF’s LIFE EconomisE project demonstrates how influencing financial flows for the decarbonization of building stock can deliver significant contributions towards 2020 and 2030 Climate and Energy targets, with special emphasis placed on working within the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals of 1.5/2°C. We also need new partners and clever solutions! The objective is to influence the uptake of energy efficiency measures and to bring about a shift towards low-carbon investment, explicitly focused on the decarbonization of buildings and improved climate resilience. We cannot afford missed opportunities – therefore strong collaboration and partnerships with forward-thinking organizations, big or small, is greatly needed. This episode of the podcast was produced with the contribution of the LIFE Programme of the European Union. Listen to the podcast (also on iTunes, Spotify, and other platforms)