GH1: GHG Emissions

Intent

Greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting has developed significantly in recent years. Many countries have introduced mandatory GHG emissions reporting, in addition to entities often setting their own voluntary GHG emission targets. Evaluating emissions within participants’ portfolios has become standard practice, and entities are increasingly looking at emissions throughout their value chains.

Requirements

Total GHG emissions of the portfolio

The indicator below is automatically populated by GRESB based on information provided through the reporting entity’s GRESB Asset Portal. Participants can access the Asset Portal via the Assessment Portal menu, section ASSETS.

The table above is automatically populated by GRESB based on information provided at the asset level by the GRESB participants through the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet. It displays the aggregated GHG emissions values per property type, along with their related Floor Area Covered, Maximum Floor Areas and Like-for-like changes (%) in emissions.

Note: Scope 3 emissions in the 2020 GRESB Assessment are calculated as the emissions associated with tenant areas, unless they are already reported as Scope 1 or Scope 2 emissions (if they cannot be disassociated from emissions from other areas). Scope 3 emissions do not include emissions generated through the entity’s operations or by its employees, transmission losses or upstream supply chain emissions.

Total data coverage of the portfolio

The table above is automatically populated by GRESB based on information provided at the asset level by the GRESB participants through the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet. It displays a summary of aggregated Data Coverages and Like-for-Like consumption changes per property type, split by emission Scopes. While “Area - Aggregated Data coverage” only accounts for the floor area size of assets when aggregating values, “Time - Aggregated Data coverage” accounts for the period of ownership. Consequently, “Area/Time - Aggregated Data coverage” aggregates both dimensions and is used for benchmarking purposes.

Explain (a) the GHG emissions calculation standard/methodology/protocol, (b) used emission factors, (c) level of uncertainty in data accuracy, (d) source and characteristics of GHG emissions offsets (maximum 250 words).

________________________

In 2020, participants are required to report their GHG emissions at the asset level, using the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet. See tab for detailed guidance on how to interpret and complete each field.

It is recommended to:

• Prepare and upload the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet onto the Assessment;
• Review all fields in GH1 to ensure it is accurate and complete.

Validation

This indicator is subject to automatic validation.

See Appendix 2a for additional information about GRESB Validation.

Scoring

7 points, E

The score of this indicator equals the sum of the scores achieved by:

1. Data coverage = 5 points;
2. Like-for-Like performance improvement = 2 points.

Open text box: The open text box is not scored and is for reporting purposes only.

See the Scoring Document for additional information on scoring.

Terminology

See definitions in Appendix 9b and in the Instructions tab of the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet.

Data Coverage: The part of the asset for which data is available, per space and GHG scope. The Floor Area Covered reported reflects the floor area of the portfolio for which Absolute Emission data is collected from.

Like-for-Like (LFL): Figures that only include comparable data points from two consecutive reporting periods. Only assets that meet all of the following criteria, for both current and previous reporting years, are eligible for inclusion in the LFL calculations:

• Data Availability covers the full year (> 355 days);
• Data Coverage is positive;
• Data Coverage is the same (within 1% error threshold);
• The asset is classified as Standing Investment.

References

Reporting of GHG emissions is based on: GHG protocol, GRI GRESS (G4-EN15, G4-EN16, G4-EN17,), ISO 14064 and CDP.

EPRA Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting, 3rd version, September 2017

INREV Sustainability Reporting Recommendations, 3.5-3.7

International Property Measurement Standard (IPMS)

EPRA Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting, 3rd version, September 2017: 5.2, Coverage

RobecoSAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, 2017: 4.2.1, Direct greenhouse gas emissions

Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures June 2017: Metrics and Targets- B

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