On November 7th, the English and Chinese versions of the “White Paper on Low Carbon Properties in Commercial and Corporate Spaces in China” (hereinafter referred to as the “White Paper”), which was jointly authored by Tongji SEM, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and Cushman & Wakefield Vanke Service, were formally released in the 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE). The White Paper, a collaborative effort integrating theory and practice, analyzes exemplary practices in implementing low carbon property measures across various types of corporate spaces. It also discusses the status quo, challenges, and paths for reducing carbon emissions in commercial and corporate spaces in China. This provides valuable references for owners and operators of commercial assets in China to reduce their carbon footprint. Industry insiders predict that the book will be the first authoritative low-carbon real estate white paper, created by a collaboration of industry, academia, and research. It aims to share China’s low-carbon property experience with global practitioners and contribute to the global carbon reduction process.

During the event, the three parties presented a detailed explanation of the contents of the White Paper. The paper covers low carbon trends, pathways, and successful cases in the real estate industry.

Representatives from three parties published the White Paper

According to TANG Daizhong, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Department of Construction Management and Real Estate at Tongji SEM, global cooperation and technological innovation are crucial to promoting a common vision of green, low-carbon and sustainable development. It is predicted that there will be an increasing number of projects seeking green building certification in the future. Companies will place greater emphasis on energy efficiency and use more sustainable materials for environmentally friendly architectural designs. At the same time, the pursuit of “dual carbon” goals will be accelerated through the further integration of smart city and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, collaborative efforts in community and transportation planning, and the innovation of new models for ecological restoration.

Mr LUO Donglai, Chief Economist at RICS, suggests that international experience can help achieve the carbon peak and carbon neutral targets by improving the effectiveness of carbon reduction during the property operation phase and enhancing the disclosure of carbon emission data by companies. At the same time, efforts are being made to promote the gradual development and expansion of the carbon emissions trading market system. This includes the establishment of unified accounting standards and the adaptive implementation of emission reduction measures based on local conditions. Industry leaders can play an active role in spearheading these initiatives, promoting the improvement of environmental, social and governance (ESG) systems and encouraging the development of green building practices.

Mr QIAN Binqiang, Vice President of Cushman & Wakefield Vanke Service, said that this book, created by authoritative industry, academia and research, is the first white paper on low-carbon real estate in China. He hoped that it would promote China’s low-carbon experience in commercial and corporate spaces globally, so that the world could see China’s efforts in the low-carbon process, and at the same time call on more people in the industry to join the low-carbon property action.

Mr. ZHOU Zhe, General Manager of the Product Service Centre of Cushman & Wakefield Vanke Service, stressed that commercial buildings have significant potential for carbon reduction and energy saving. However, there are some pain points that need to be addressed, such as the need to improve the efficiency of asset operation and management, and the lack of technological experience in this area. The speaker discussed the company’s efforts to improve the efficiency of energy resources, create energy-saving commercial spaces and provide customers with comfortable, convenient and technology-rich experiences through low-carbon buildings, intelligent services and sophisticated management.

During the roundtable dialogue session, Associate Professor Tang Daizhong of Tongji SEM discussed with Mr. HUANG Jianxin, Senior Associate Director of Cushman & Wakefield in Greater China Sustainability Services Platform, Mr. XU Guanglei, General Manager of Shanghai UNI Vanke Plaza Project, and Mr. LIN Hao, Head of Energy Practice of Cushman & Wakefield Vanke Service, the pain points and solutions for carbon reduction in commercial spaces from the perspectives of universities, property consultants, asset owners and property service providers.

In the book’s foreword, Professor SHI Qian, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongji SEM, said that the white paper has coordinated resources from various sectors, including universities and industry, and collected global best practices. Leveraging Tongji SEM’s extensive experience and disciplinary advantages in real estate over the years, it has achieved a synergistic and efficient collaboration between academia, industry and research. The book combines academic and professional elements, integrating theoretical innovation with practical value. The book is expected to serve as a valuable reference for the development of low-carbon real estate, and together contribute to the healthy growth of the industry.