4 September 2014: The Australia and New Zealand real estate market is the world’s greenest, according to the latest Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).

The report, which analysed data from 637 listed property companies and private equity real estate funds, covering 56,000 buildings with an aggregate value of USD $2.1 trillion, found that “as in previous years, Australia/New Zealand is the leading region.”

Two Australian companies, ISPT and Lend Lease, were also named ‘global sector leaders’.

Australia and New Zealand also performed strongest in terms of regional green leaders, with 70 per cent of the total participants in the highest quadrant, compared with 35 per cent in Europe, and 32 per cent in North America and Asia.

About GRESB and why Australia leads the world in green building

Established in 2009, GRESB assesses the sustainability performance of the real estate sector. Five years on, reporting has become standard practice for most of the world’s property companies and fund managers.

“Green building is the world’s fastest growing industry – and Australia is leading the charge,” says the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA’s) Chief Executive, Romilly Madew.

“The report underscores our regional leadership in sustainability, and serves as a reminder of why Australia is one of the best real estate markets in which to invest.

“We congratulate Lend Lease and ISPT for their outstanding leadership. Both these companies are committed to investing in sustainable business models that will ensure the long-term success of their organisations.

“Australia’s real estate sector is demonstrating that it has a long-term commitment to sustainability that stretches far beyond this financial year or this electoral cycle,” Ms Madew concludes.