Author: Alicia Rasmussen

The SHARE Investor Summit brings together asset managers, asset owners and service providers across Canada to discuss the most pressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. This year’s theme, The Power of Many, emphasized the need for collaboration, unity and coordinated investor action toward reconciliation, climate action, human rights, affordable housing and racial equity.

The sustainability landscape is transforming with important implications for companies and investors. Converging global macro trends, such as political polarization, geopolitical instability, rising economic inequality and an accelerating climate transition, are reshaping the landscape of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities, and prompting companies and investors alike to revisit both their strategies and disclosures to ensure their suitability for a changing world.

Quinn+Partners reviewed the sustainability reports of 17 publicly listed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with a combined market cap of over CAD 40 bn and 11 private real estate companies managing more than CAD 350 bn in assets. As mandatory sustainability disclosure rules advance towards adoption, we wanted to provide our insights on the state of the sustainability reporting landscape for the Canadian real estate market.

Sustainability has evolved through the decades, and the current era of economic uncertainty, political change and social polarization is no exception. Conversations at GLOBExCHANGE emphasized that sustainability remains a fundamental business priority and organizations that prioritize value creation and maintain a long-term perspective will continue to position themselves for success.

Q+P welcomes a round of new hires to our experienced team offering leading sustainability, climate change and impact advisory services for investors and businesses. Great Place to Work certification signifies that employees are satisfied in their roles, feel respected and valued, and are motivated to perform at their best — qualities that define the workplace we strive to foster.

To steward companies effectively, board oversight of climate change needs to be both risk-informed and opportunity-fluent.

As we look to the year ahead, significant developments are poised to shape the ESG, sustainable finance and climate landscapes. Here are five areas we are monitoring closely with implications for businesses, investors and policymakers in the year ahead.

Nearly 700 delegates gathered in Ottawa at the end of November at the 2024 Sustainable Finance Forum to explore how financial markets can drive socio-economic and environmental progress while continuing to build momentum around initiatives that are accelerating the transition to an inclusive, low-carbon economy.

In October, the Government of Canada announced the development of a Canadian sustainable finance taxonomy. Otherwise known as sustainable investment guidelines, the taxonomy will provide Canadian capital markets with clarity about business activities that are aligned with 1.5°C decarbonization pathways and the transition to a net-zero economy. In doing so, the taxonomy will play a critical role in mobilizing the significant capital needed to support Canada’s efforts to mitigate climate change and keep global warming within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.