01 / Introduction

“Planet earth is shutting down” was the opening line to a leader in the Economist on 21 March, as governments around the world started to grapple with the apparent dilemma of saving lives or saving economies. Wrapped up within this conundrum is the environmental future of our planet, a reminder that true sustainability requires the optimal balance of wellbeing, money and climate, which are not always easily reconcilable.

Crises can accelerate trends that were already in play, and together with a concerted effort to reduce real estate’s carbon footprint, these may include: the faster adoption of new technologies; the digitalisation of design and delivery; the recasting of supply chains; and even a real shake-up of the procurement model – all of which can contribute to efforts for net zero carbon.

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