CAPITALAND has achieved recognition for its efforts in sustainability across its global portfolio. It is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index ( DJSI World ) for the eighth consecutive year, cementing the company’s reputation for sustainability in real estate. The company is one of only two Singapore companies to be listed on the DJSI World which is regarded as the gold standard for corporate sustainability.
CapitaLand has also retained its listing on the Dow Sustainability Asia Pacific Index ( DSJI Asia Pacific ) for the 11th year, making it the first and longest standing company in Singapore to be listed consecutively on the DJSI Asia Pacific.
The inclusion on the DJSI indices is explicitly tied to the interest rates of CapitaLand’s sustainability-linked loans totalling S$600 million. Given the company’s achievements of environmental, social and governance ( ESG ) metrics, including maintaining its listing on the DJSI indices, the interest rates on these loans will be reduced.
Andrew Lim, group chief financial officer, CapitaLand Group says: “Dovetailing CapitaLand’s ESG efforts with our cost of funding demonstrates CapitaLand’s commitment to embed sustainability into our business and to encourage others in the business community to do the same. We are delighted to have the support of banking partners that share a similar long-term commitment to sustainability, and we look forward to continue working together to identify and develop innovative ideas on sustainability-linked financing.”
Lynette Leong, chief sustainability officer, CapitaLand Group says: “CapitaLand’s inclusion in these international indices affirm our reputation as a global real estate leader in sustainability. Our emphasis on sustainability extends beyond playing our part as a responsible global corporate citizen. We aim to future-proof our business as we work towards delivering long-term value for our stakeholders, and our achievement of interest savings as a result of our sustainability efforts shows that we can also do well when we do good and do right. CapitaLand will continue to innovate and step up our ESG efforts as we create value-adding and sustainable spaces for the community to live, work and play.”
In September, CapitaLand was inducted as a founding member of Global Reporting Initiative’s ( GRI ) new Regional Hub in Singapore to support the world’s leading sustainability standards setter to advance sustainability reporting and sustainable development in Asean.
In July 2019, the company partnered with Sembcorp Industries to install approximately 21,240 rooftop solar panels atop six CapitaLand properties by end 2019. The installation will form the largest combined rooftop solar facility in Singapore by a real estate company. The energy generated through this renewable source will significantly lower the company’s carbon footprint. The combined rooftop solar facility will avoid over 4.3 million kg of carbon emissions each year.
In 2018, the company achieved utilities cost avoidance in excess of S$170 million since 2009 by reducing its energy intensity ( per square metre ) and water intensity ( per square metre ) by 17.6% and 20.9% respectively for its operational properties since 2008. CapitaLand also reduced its carbon emission intensity by 29.8% since 2008, exceeding its 2020 target of 23%.