Most asset managers yet to put climate strategies into action, survey finds
6 May 2025
A new international survey has found that while 97% of building portfolio and asset managers say they are able to keep up with environmental regulations and reporting requirements, 80% have yet to put their sustainability strategies into practice.
The research, conducted for construction consultancy Mace by Censuswide, questioned more than 4,000 managers across the UK, USA, UAE and Hong Kong, spanning 14 sectors including architecture, residential real estate, retail and infrastructure.
Despite the built environment accounting for 40% of global carbon emissions and the world likely to surpass the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree warming target, only 20% of respondents reported that they are currently implementing sustainability measures. Local authorities appear to be leading the way, with 32% stating they are in the implementation phase. This compares to 20% for infrastructure, 19% for real estate and retail and leisure, and just 13% for architecture and engineering.
When asked about their key motivators for creating more sustainable assets, 54% of all respondents cited finance as the main driver, followed by investor mandates at 19%, regulatory compliance at 15%, and occupant expectation at 10%. In the UK specifically, finance was an even more significant motivator, with 65% of asset managers identifying it as their top priority.
In terms of investment focus, 36% of UK asset managers pointed to data and artificial intelligence as the most important area for delivering sustainable portfolios. This was followed by standardisation of reporting frameworks at 22%, decarbonisation technologies at 21%, and green skills and talent at 18%.
The report notes that while most asset managers are aware of the value that sustainable assets can bring—such as improved resilience, reduced operational costs, and increased asset value—these benefits have yet to be widely realised in practice.
Commenting on the survey results, James Low, global head of responsible business at Mace Group:
“It is imperative businesses have sustainable assets and with many making net zero carbon commitments for 2030 and 2050, asset managers have a crucial role to play in shaping the future of our growing urban environments.
“This study has found that sustainable solutions can combine environmental and financial advantages, however, most asset managers have only just started their journey when it comes to implementing their strategies.
“But with asset managers now able to keep pace with current environmental regulations and reporting requirements, it’s time to enact their strategies with tactics that can be implemented and measurement systems needed to get them off the mark.”
