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CSOs: What’s holding back sustainability in real estate?

As green buildings become the norm, chief sustainability officers must renew their business case

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    • The sustainability of commercial buildings in Asia-Pacific is quickly transitioning from a “nice to have” to a “must have” – an essential component of the asset’s value.
    • The sustainability of commercial buildings in Asia-Pacific is quickly transitioning from a “nice to have” to a “must have” – an essential component of the asset’s value. PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN, BT

    DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

    Ada Choi

    Published Fri, Aug 8, 2025 · 07:00 AM

    WITH environmental considerations rising in importance across the Asia-Pacific, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) are under mounting pressure. Beyond showing a green upside to projects, they must also make a compelling business case for them. 

    The central challenge for today’s CSO is how to deliver on sustainability goals profitably while balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders. This means making the most of recent financial and technological innovations. 

    This new pressure is a key finding of CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Real Estate Chief Sustainability Officer Survey. We interviewed executives from nearly two dozen corporates in Asia-Pacific – most notably Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and mainland China – divided equally between landlords and investors in commercial real estate. 

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    sustainabilityGreen financeReal estateConstruction

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