CCA and JLL joined hands to hold a professional seminar for China’s real estate sector in Shenzhen (23 April) and Shanghai (26 April), the theme being “Corporate ESG Strategy: how to attract international investors and enhance sustainability performance”. Over 100 representatives and professionals from the industry attended the two seminars.

As the Chinese real estate sector is entering a new phase of growth, many companies are hoping for a breakthrough and to attract international investors. Speaking on “Global sustainability challenges: tracking international investor expectations”, Ir Albert Lai, CEO of CCA, outlined to the audience the world’s latest investment trends and expectations on corporate ESG performance. He pointed out that the Chinese real estate sector must understand and gear up to meet international standards. To attract international investors, the industry must first satisfy international expectations regarding ESG performance.

As its premium partner, CCA cooperated with GRESB recently to conduct a study on the ESG performance of its 137 real estate member companies based in Asia. Dr Lindsay Mai, Senior Sustainability Consultant of CCA, presented the findings of this new research and the analyses. Suggestions were made to the audience on how to get better scores out of their GRESB and CDP submissions.

Supporting partners also sent their representative to address the seminar in their respective area of expertise. The topics included:

“Green finance and ESG: opportunities for Chinese companies” – by Ms Vickie Chen, Operations Director, Energy & Sustainability Services, Greater China, JLL

“GRESB 2019 standards and new features” – by Ms Xinying Tok, GRESB representative

“The greenlighting of real estate and how LEED standards can play a key role” – by Ms Jing Wang, Director, North Asia, US Green Building Council

“How ESG online learning can enhance corporate sustainability performance” – by Mr Roy Fung, CEO, Prosage Sustainability Development Ltd

Real estate developers from both Shenzhen and Shanghai were particularly attracted by the theme of this professional seminar. They were eager to discuss and ask questions on how to improve the ESG performance of their company and to attract investment from various sources.

Photo captions:

(Photos supplied by JLL & Prosage)

1. A warm welcome to the seminar participants from Mr Andrew Kam, Senior Director, Corporate Appraisal & Advisory, JLL.
2. According to Ir Albert Lai, CEO of CCA, the recent London strike initiated by Extinction Rebellion was a clear illustration that the general public no longer tolerates the procrastination of governments and business corporations in tackling climate change.
3. Ms Vickie Chen, JLL’s Operations Director, Energy & Sustainability Services, Greater China, focused her analysis on the opportunities for Chinese enterprises in green finance arising from good ESG performance.
4. GRESB’s 2019 standards and new features were highlighted by its representative Ms Xinying Tok.
5. CCA Senior Sustainability Consultant Dr Lindsay Mai suggested means of boosting GRESB and CDP scores to the audience based on our company’s latest research findings on the ESG performance of Asian real estate companies.
6. Ms Jing Wang, Director (North Asia) of US Green Building Council, explained how LEED could be integrated with green finance to facilitate the green development of real estates.
7. Prosage CEO Mr Roy Fung elaborated on how online learning could help to enhance corporate sustainability performance.
8. At the panel discussion session, the speakers answered questions from the floor.
9. Speakers and organisers took a group photo at the Shanghai seminar — (from left ) Mr Roy Fung, CEO, Prosage; Mr Andy To, Managing Director, North Asia, U.S. Green Building Council; Dr Lindsay Mai, Senior Sustainability Consultant, CCA; Ir Albert Lai, CEO, CCA; Mr Andrew Kam, Senior Director, Corporate Appraisal & Advisory, JLL; Ms Xinying Tok, GRESB representative and Ms Jing Wang, Director, North Asia, US Green Building Council.
10. The first session of the Seminar held in Shenzhen attracted scores of representatives and professionals from the real estate industry.
11. Many local developers showed keen interest in the second session of the Seminar held in Shanghai.