Schroders joins GREEN to drive sustainability in real estate

News release - 19 December 2023

Schroders today announces that it has joined the Global Real Estate Engagement Network (GREEN), a not-for-profit engagement network of global institutional investors dedicated to accelerating change and driving sustainability in the real estate industry.

Joining GREEN will allow Schroders’ Global Cities team to work alongside its peers to engage with listed real estate companies and implement meaningful change.

Currently, the real estate sector accounts for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions1. The network’s mission is to ensure that the industry reaches the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement2.

Through the power of this coalition, members aim to steer listed and non-listed real estate companies to improve their sustainability performance and reduce their exposure to financial and non-financial climate risk.

One of the key initiatives undertaken by GREEN is the development of an investor statement, endorsed by all members, which provides a structured engagement framework, enabling large institutional investors to collaborate and coordinate their efforts effectively.

It outlines four actions on climate change and sustainability for real estate funds and companies:

  1. Provide enhanced disclosure on the robustness of companies’ business plans in different climate scenarios to aid investment decision-making;
  2. Implement a strong governance framework for climate change and sustainability;
  3. Develop science-based transition pathways to help meet Paris Agreement goals;
  4. Promote certified data across the portfolio, such as building certification
Andy Howard, Global Head of Sustainable Investments at Schroders, said:
​“Schroders has a long-standing history of promoting sustainability throughout its investment portfolios. Aligning with other investors through GREEN will help us achieve even greater impact and influence with real estate companies across different markets.
​“This collaborative initiative sends a powerful message to the industry, which we hope will encourage other investors to prioritise sustainability and take action.”
Tom Walker and Hugo Machin, Co-Heads of Global Listed Real Assets at Schroders, commented: ​
​"Joining GREEN not only highlights our ongoing commitment to sustainability in our investment approach but also demonstrates our focus on differentiating ourselves within the real estate industry. Real estate and cities are major carbon emitters, and by working together with our peers, we can drive significant change and reduce the environmental impact of this sector.
​“The impacts of climate change are already being realised for the real estate sector, and the frequency and severity of these impacts is expected to increase in the future. The potential cost of inaction or maladaptation could lead to significant material and financial consequences. Fast and effective action now could set leaders apart, but this is not just competition – collective action is essential given the scale and regional impact of the consequences, besides impacting individual assets at risk. ​
​“Schroders' Global Cities team is therefore excited to contribute to this industry-wide initiative and steering the industry on a path towards a more sustainable future."

1 Why The Built Environment – Architecture 2030

2 The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

Media contacts

Wim Heirbaut

Press and media relations, BeFirm

Tânia Jerónimo Cabral

Head of Marketing Schroders Benelux, Schroders

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Schroders plc

Schroders is a global investment manager which provides active asset management, wealth management and investment solutions, with £776.6 billion (€906.6 billion; $1064.2 billion) of assets under management at 30 June 2025. As a UK listed FTSE100 company, Schroders has a market capitalisation of circa £6 billion and over 5,800 employees across 38 locations. Established in 1804, Schroders remains true to its roots as a family-founded business. The Principal Shareholder Group continues to be a significant shareholder, holding approximately 44% of the issued share capital.

Schroders' success can be attributed to its diversified business model, spanning different asset classes, client types and geographies. The company offers innovative products and solutions through four core business divisions: Public Markets, Solutions, Wealth Management, and Schroders Capital, which focuses on private markets, including private equity, renewable infrastructure investing, private debt & credit alternatives, and real estate.

Schroders aims to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. This means directing capital towards resilient businesses with sustainable business models, consistently with the investment goals of its clients. Schroders serves a diverse client base that includes pension schemes, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, high net worth individuals, family offices, as well as end clients through partnerships with distributors, financial advisers, and online platforms.

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