From Commitment to Action: Facing the practical reality of de-carbonising buildings
As we near five years since the launch of the BBP Climate Commitment, AREF ESG 5 Year Roadmap, and the UKGBC Net Zero Carbon Building Framework, the need to align real estate with a 1.5-degree pathway has become even more urgent. To address this, given its importance, we are excited to present a series of two events, open to both AREF and Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) Members. The first event will focus on the practical implementation challenges that follow when setting net zero commitments, while a second follow-up event (date to be confirmed) will explore solutions for the industry drawing on the findings from the initial event.
During our January event, we will gather insights into actionable findings for integration into your transition plans. Our objective is to accelerate the implementation of decarbonisation strategies by increasing industry awareness of the future obstacles, particularly the costs of retrofitting within the non-prime/ secondary market.
Attendees will benefit from insights shared by specialists implementing industry-leading decarbonisation initiatives. Additionally, participants will join a collaborative workshop focusing on the following critical challenges:
- Political: Could shifting policies, limited incentives, and grid infrastructure limitations hinder strategy execution?
- Economic: Will high retrofit costs and uncertain returns lead to delays? How can the non-prime/ secondary market align with the targets outlined by SBTi or the UKNZCBS?
- Social: Could resistance to change, skill gaps, and awareness issues slow down progress?
- Technological: Will outdated systems and the complexity and costs of new technologies lead to inertia?
As outcomes from the session, we will:
- Use insights from this session to shape our second event, focusing on actionable industry solutions.
- Distil findings into practical actions that attendees can embed into their transition plans.
- Use findings to inform policy engagement efforts and shape future BBP/AREF campaigns.
We look forward to your participation in driving meaningful change toward a net zero future.
Speakers:
Moderators:
Oliver Light, Head of Sustainable Real Estate, Accenture
Adam Baranowski, Head of Climate Action & Investment, The Better Building Partnership (BBP)
Panellists:
Joey Aoun, Net Zero & Sustainability Lead, Savills Investment Management
Ryan Brown, Sustainability Building Expert, Accenture
Laura Jockers, Global Head of ESG - Real Estate, M&G
Lina (Magdalini) Makrodimitri, Energy & Carbon Lead, Schroders
Date:
Thursday 30th January 2025
Timing:
08:30am - Networking and coffee & breakfast
09:00am - Session starts
09:40am - Roundtable discussions
10:10am - Panel discussion
11:00am - Networking
Venue:
Accenture
30 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BD
Cost:
- AREF Members: This event is FREE and open to all staff from AREF Fund, Affiliate, Associate and Investor member firms (view our list of members here).
- Trial Members: Non-members are welcome to join this event for a fee of £100+VAT. Please email us at [email protected] if you wish to register.
To Book:
AREF members should click here or the blue button below and log-in to book.
BBP members should email Adam at: [email protected] to register.
Once you have registered, remember to add the date to your calendar (you can do so by clicking here).
Enquiries:
For any enquiries relating to this event, please contact us at [email protected].