CapitaLand achieves international acclaim in sustainability with listings on Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
- Listed on Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for eight consecutive years
- Longest standing company in Singapore to be listed on Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific) for 11 consecutive years
- Global and Asia Leader in ‘Diversified – Listed’ category on the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
Singapore, 17 September 2019 – CapitaLand has achieved international acclaim for its efforts in sustainability across its global portfolio. CapitaLand is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World)[1] for the eighth consecutive year, cementing the company’s reputation as a leader in sustainability in real estate. CapitaLand is one of only two Singapore companies to be listed on the DJSI World which is widely noted to be the gold standard for corporate sustainability.
CapitaLand has also retained its listing on the Dow Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DSJI Asia Pacific)[1] for the 11th year, making CapitaLand the first and longest standing company in Singapore to be listed consecutively on the DJSI Asia Pacific.
The inclusion on the DJSI indices is explicitly tied to the interest rates of CapitaLand’s sustainability-linked loans[2] totaling S$600 million. Given CapitaLand’s achievements of environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics, including maintaining its listing on the DJSI indices, the interest rates on these loans will be reduced.
Mr Andrew Lim, Group Chief Financial Officer, CapitaLand Group said: “Dovetailing CapitaLand’s ESG efforts with our cost of funding demonstrates CapitaLand’s commitment to embed sustainability into our business and to encourage others in the business community to do the same. We are delighted to have the support of banking partners that share a similar long-term commitment to sustainability, and we look forward to continue working together to identify and develop innovative ideas on sustainability-linked financing.”
Global leader in Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
CapitaLand came in first place across four categories in the GRESB[1] 2019. Internationally, CapitaLand was the leader in the Global ‘Diversified - Listed'[3] category. CapitaLand is the only company in Singapore/Asia to achieve this accolade twice.
In the region, CapitaLand was the leader in the Asia-Pacific ‘Diversified’, Asia ‘Diversified’ and Asia ‘Diversified – Listed’ categories. CapitaLand Mall Trust (CMT) came out top in the Asia ‘Retail – Listed’ category. CapitaLand also scored ‘A’ for public disclosure in GRESB 2019. CapitaLand, CMT, CapitaLand Commercial Trust and CapitaLand Retail China Trust also scored ‘A’ for public disclosure in GRESB 2019
Ms Lynette Leong, Chief Sustainability Officer, CapitaLand Group said: “CapitaLand’s inclusion in these international indices affirms our reputation as a global real estate leader in sustainability. Our emphasis on sustainability extends beyond playing our part as a responsible global corporate citizen. We aim to future-proof our business as we work towards delivering long-term value for our stakeholders, and our achievement of interest savings as a result of our sustainability efforts shows that we can also do well when we do good and do right. CapitaLand will continue to innovate and step up our ESG efforts as we create value-adding and sustainable spaces for the community to live, work and play.”
Raising the bar in sustainability
CapitaLand targets to achieve 100% green certification of its global portfolio by 2030. It also aims to have at least 20% energy consumption from renewable energy for the enlarged group by 2025 and reduce the intensities of the Group’s energy usage, water consumption and carbon emission.
Earlier in September, CapitaLand was inducted as a founding member of Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) new Regional Hub in Singapore to support the world’s leading sustainability standards setter to advance sustainability reporting and sustainable development in ASEAN.
In July 2019, CapitaLand partnered with Sembcorp Industries to install about 21,240 rooftop solar panels atop six CapitaLand properties by end 2019. The installation will form the largest combined rooftop solar facility in Singapore by a real estate company. The energy generated through this renewable source will significantly lower CapitaLand’s carbon footprint. The combined rooftop solar facility will avoid over 4.3 million kg of carbon emissions each year.
In 2018, CapitaLand achieved utilities cost avoidance in excess of S$170 million for the Group since 2009 by reducing its energy intensity (per m2) and water intensity (per m2) by 17.6% and 20.9% respectively for its operational properties since 2008. CapitaLand also reduced its carbon emission intensity by 29.8% since 2008, exceeding its 2020 target of 23%.
[1] For more information on DJSI World, DSJI Asia Pacific and GRESB, please refer to the Annex.
[2] CapitaLand has inked sustainability-linked loans with Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, DBS Bank, Natixis Bank and Societe Generale.
[3] The 'Diversified/Listed' category includes publicly listed companies with a diverse portfolio mix in asset types i.e. offices, retail, hospitality etc.