Sustainability

REIT focus on long-term ESG goals has not changed, but short-term priorities are shifting, according to panelists on a Nareit webinar focused on ESG issues.

This interactive webinar—held on July 21—will bring together an ESG-focused REIT investor and two REIT executives to discuss how their perspectives, and their company’s priorities in ESG, have evolved recently.

Kelly Meissner, Director of Sustainability at Ventas, is looking forward to learning from peers’ experiences and successes at REITworks, particularly related to COVID-19. Another area of focus for Meissner is working towards addressing diversity and inclusion issues in the real estate industry.

Steve Theriot, CFO at JBG SMITH, is one of six program directors for the inaugural REITworks: 2020 Virtual Conference, to be held Sept. 21-22.

The report highlights the REIT industry’s many initiatives tied to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and good governance.

The conference will be held virtually on Sept. 21-22, and session recordings will be available on demand for registrants after the event.

Four Nareit member REITs receive sustained excellence award.

Five REITs have been named sector leaders on Barron’s list of America’s Most Sustainable Companies: Kilroy Realty Corp. (NYSE: KRC), Macerich (NYSE: MAC), Welltower, Inc. (NYSE: WELL), Equinix, Inc. (NYSE: EQIX), and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST), listed respectively, one through five.

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) has become the first S&P 500 REIT to sign the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), signifying a commitment to align company strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, has affirmed its commitment to long-term environmental sustainability by adopting a new investment belief that establishes climate change as a fundamental consideration in all investment decisions.