Global awareness of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is accelerating, particularly since the onset of COVID-19. Many corporates and investors are starting to rethink and strategize their portfolios and decision-making ahead by catering towards a sustainable future. In Hong Kong, ESG is also becoming an essential element as part of corporate and governmental strategies, riding on the city’s target to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.
Additionally, two local Hong Kong regulatory bodies, the Securities and Finance Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), have both expanded their ESG reporting requirements, urging listed companies and funds to consult experts to navigate the new ESG-related regulations.
In this report, we examine the current sustainability landscape in Hong Kong from a real estate perspective, and explore what occupiers, investors and landlords can do in responding to the rising requirements of ESG mandates.