The Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor—Developing a Framework for Science-based Decarbonizing and Reducing Stranding Risks within the Commercial Real Estate Sector

Key obstacles to achieving the ambitious decarbonization targets determined in the Paris Agreement include the poor energy efficiency of the European commercial real estate sector and excessively low refurbishments rates due to uncertainty and a lack of transparency regarding future regulatory guidelines. This paper introduces the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM), aimed at accelerating decarbonization and climate change resilience by clearly communicating the downside financial risks associated with poor energy performance buildings, and quantifying the market implications of climate change on the building stock. Science-based emission targets serve as a theoretical foundation for providing the industry with appropriate carbon reduction pathways for particular buildings at the portfolio and company levels. A key outcome of this project is a quantitative and qualitative financial risk assessment tool. The aim is to optimize industry investments in energy-efficient retrofits by making risks more transparent and by revealing opportunities for property owners and investors. The CRREM tool enables the industry to assess stranding risks, accelerating the decarbonization of the EU building stock to “2-degree readiness” (2DR) and make real estate portfolios “future proof.”