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Concerns about the environment and its preservation for future generations gained prominence in the last decades of the last century, and efforts were made to integrate the environmental aspect into the international political agenda, culminating with the emergence of the concept of sustainable development and, more recently, with the trilogy "Environment, Social and Governance – ESG".

The emergence of this concept, along with the increase in environmental awareness, has been changing the way organizations face the role of management, leading them to the implementation of good management practices related to the environment, through the application of principles and instruments of Environmental Policy. This change in management practices has not gone over the side of the real estate sector which over time has acquired importance in environmental responsibility practices.

The development of markets, both at the industrial and service levels, resulting from globalisation, has increased exponentially, which has inevitably had harmful consequences for the environment. In this sequence, environmental concerns have begun to increase, currently focusing among the most serious challenges affecting the well-being of society worldwide.

Several efforts were made at the international level so that the environment and sustainable development gained a prominent place within the international political agenda, emerging, at the end of the eighties, what became known as the first definition of sustainable development: "It is one who seeks present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

In recent decades this concept has marked the guidelines of politics and ethics to deal with the ecological and social crisis that crosses society and the world, initiating what we all know as "Ecological Footprint".

From a certain point, the growing concern around sustainability has been modifying and evolving the way organizations face the role of management, leading them to the implementation of good management practices related to the environment.

Biodiversity risks are associated with the loss of nature's supply of environmental services. The loss of these environmental services is closely linked to the development of economic sectors with strong impacts on ecosystems.

According to the FTSE4GOOD (index developed to measure the performance of companies that demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance practices), the sectors with a high exposure to risks from biodiversity are Construction, associated materials and real estate, electricity, among others.

It is clear that the real estate sector has a very important role in Environmental Responsibility, demonstrating direct risks arising from real estate transactions (buildings or simply land) that may have serious environmental impacts or are not complying with the environmental legislation in force; and possible reputational risks, since the environmental awareness associated with the civic awareness of the actions of the real estate players are and are increasingly valued by the citizen/consumer.

For about a decade, real estate transactions cannot be carried out in the national market without the existence of the Energy Certificate of the property in question; Basically, it is intended a total transparency in the market that allows any consumer to evaluate the energy capacity of a particular property before making a decision on its acquisition or lease. In theory, who will acquire or lease a particular good can and should consider and decide based on the potential future savings of energy consumption.

Also with regard to new construction, the role of the sector was duly safeguarded by administrative (read: legislative) means. Thus, new construction projects had to be based on the best techniques and solutions that would ensure that the final product would be of a higher class in the field of sustainability.

The construction methods have known considerable developments through the use of techniques and products "environmentally friendly", from simple Led lamps to constructions in cork and/or wood agglomerate, enhancing sustainable construction.

However, the role of the real estate sector in sustainability and environmental responsibility cannot be reduced to complying with the legislation in force.

It is up to us, Human Beings, to assume the design of sustainability and seek to defend the most economically sustainable products, either as a consumer (buyer) or as a market player (developer or real estate agent).

Professionals in the sector have the responsibility to value real estate products that defend and respond to the environment, knowing how to evidence their differentiation from others that are not "friendly" to the environment.

We believe that, given their proximity in commercial terms, the real estate sector and the financial sector will have an important say in order to jointly create tools that leverage the best and most sustainable real estate offerings.

Preferential conditions for preferred customers, but also for preferential products.

Deep down, let's realize that, in our sector, everything is not worth it!

 

Luis Mario Nunes

CEO of ComprarCasa Portugal