COP29 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion

Financing the Transition of the Real Estate Sector Towards Net-Zero

Event description

This event examines how the transition of the real estate sector towards net-zero will be financed. Hear from leading financial institutions that are active in this field as we explore the unique challenges across various financial institution types. The event will address key barriers to financing the transition to net-zero emission buildings, both old and new, offering recommendations for overcoming these obstacles.

Key topics discussed are:

• How financial institutions are considering the net-zero transition in their real estate portfolio – measuring financed emissions, overcoming data challenges, setting targets, identifying levers in their transition plans.
• Challenges with the achievability of 1.5 aligned targets for real estate for financial institutions.
• What are the policies that need to be implemented in commercial and residential real estate to enable the necessary improvement in energy efficiency to be realised, for new build and for retrofit?
• Are embodied emissions of construction being tackled?
• What is the scale of the opportunity to invest in clients’ and customers’ transition that not only align with a 1.5 pathway but also enhance building resilience and sustainability, reduce energy poverty and lower energy demand for cooking, heating and cooling?
• How can a successful transition of the sector reduce risk?

Objectives

• Learn from success stories to translate what works and what may be scaled.

• Better understand the challenges involved in transitioning to greener real estate assets and how they may be overcome. 

• Identify where financial institutions  can lean in and lend support to advocacy for policy that can unlock the barriers to transitioning the sector.

Agenda 

Welcome (2 minutes)

• Speaker: Sarah Kemmitt, UNEP FI

Keynote Speeches (30 minutes)

• Welcome from Sarah Kemmitt and run through of agenda
• Gulnara Roll, Head of Cities Unit, UNEP
• Shargiil Bashir, NZBA Chair, CSO, First Abu Dhabi Bank
• Sarah Kemmitt, UNEP FI, NZBA Secretariat
• Kavita Sachwani, UNEP FI

Panel Discussion on Financing the Transition of the Real Estate Sector Towards Net-Zero (60 minutes)

• Toni Ballabriga, Global Head Sustainability Intelligence & Advocacy, BBVA
• Inge-Lise Mackaay, Head of ESG Solutions, FIC, Deutsche Bank
• Peter Hirsch, Head of Sustainability, 2150
• Stephen O’Driscoll, Head of Environment, Climate and Social Policy, European Investment Bank