Seven REITs have been named to the inaugural Forbes Net Zero Leaders list, which uses data from research providers Sustainalytics and Morningstar to identify and rank the U.S. public companies that have not only set targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to align with the global goal to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, but have best positioned their business to achieve these goals by integrating the sustainability targets into their business model.
The REITs named to the list were Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (Nasdaq: HST), Kimco Realty (NYSE: KIM), Healthpeak Properties, Inc . (NYSE: PEAK), AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE: AVB), Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PVB), and Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG).
These REITs were assessed alongside more than 4,000 companies that have set targets to reduce or offset their carbon emissions and selected based not only on the methods to reduce carbon emissions from the company’s own operations but also that of its power suppliers, vendors, and customers. Also considered in the methodology is the company’s management structure to aid in risk assessment, along with governance, strategy, and metrics for achieving those goals. Another key consideration is the company’s financial strength to withstand industry competition and economic turmoil.