CBRE Ascends to Number 3 on Barron's Most Sustainable U.S. Companies List: A Testament to ESG Leadership

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE: CBRE), a leading global commercial real estate services and investment firm, has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability journey. In 2024, CBRE climbed to the number 3 position on the prestigious Barron's list of the 100 most sustainable U.S.-based companies, further solidifying its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This accomplishment reflects CBRE's dedication to responsible business practices and its positive contributions to a more sustainable future.

Navigating a Changing Landscape: The Rise of ESG

The role of corporations in addressing global challenges, particularly environmental concerns and social disparities, has become increasingly prominent. Investors are increasingly looking beyond financial performance and factoring in a company's ESG practices when making investment decisions. Understanding the significance of this evolving landscape, CBRE has proactively integrated sustainability into its core business strategy.

Decoding the Barron's Ranking: Measuring Sustainability Performance

The Barron's ranking is a highly respected benchmark for assessing corporate sustainability performance. It utilizes a comprehensive methodology developed in collaboration with Calvert Research and Management. This methodology evaluates companies across five key categories:

1. Shareholders: This category assesses how companies manage their financial health, engage with shareholders, and ensure sound corporate governance practices.
2. Employees: This category evaluates how companies treat their workforce, including factors like diversity, inclusion, employee well-being, and workplace safety.
3. Customers: This category assesses how companies engage with their customers, ensure fair business practices, and manage product safety and quality.
4. Community: This category assesses how companies engage with the communities they operate in, including their commitment to social responsibility, philanthropy, and community development initiatives.
5. Planet: This category assesses how companies manage their environmental footprint, including their approach to climate change mitigation, resource conservation, and waste reduction.

CBRE's Sustainability Achievements:

CBRE's impressive rise to the number 3 spot in the Barron's ranking is a testament to its ongoing commitment to ESG leadership. Here are some key highlights of the company's sustainability achievements:

• Climate Change Leadership: CBRE received an A- performance score from CDP on its 2023 climate change disclosure, placing the company within the Leadership band. This recognition signifies CBRE's commitment to transparency and its ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Building a Sustainable Future: CBRE actively works with clients and partners to develop and manage environmentally responsible buildings. The company plays a crucial role in promoting green building practices and reducing the environmental impact of the built environment.
• Social Responsibility: CBRE fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace, invests in community development initiatives, and upholds ethical business practices throughout its operations.

CBRE's Best Practices on ESG: Leading by Example

CBRE's rise to the number 3 spot on the Barron's Most Sustainable U.S. Companies List reflects their dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) best practices. Here are some key examples of how CBRE implements these principles:

Environment:

• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: CBRE has set ambitious goals to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and those of its clients. They achieve this through energy efficiency initiatives in buildings they manage, promoting renewable energy use, and implementing sustainable transportation options for employees.
• Green Building Leadership: CBRE offers various services to assist clients in developing and managing LEED-certified buildings (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). They also advocate for stricter green building standards and regulations.
• Resource Stewardship: CBRE implements practices like water conservation, waste reduction, and responsible waste management across its operations and encourages clients to do the same.

Social:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I): CBRE fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace culture through various initiatives, including unconscious bias training, employee resource groups, and fostering an inclusive leadership pipeline.
• Community Engagement: CBRE actively engages in local communities through volunteer programs, philanthropic initiatives, and partnerships with social impact organizations.
• Employee Well-being: CBRE prioritizes employee well-being by offering comprehensive health and wellness programs, promoting work-life balance, and fostering a supportive work environment.

Governance:

• Corporate Governance: CBRE maintains a strong commitment to ethical business practices, transparency, and accountability. They have a robust corporate governance framework in place, including a board of directors with diverse expertise and clear guidelines for ethical conduct.
• Risk Management: CBRE actively identifies, assesses, and manages ESG-related risks, ensuring their business practices are sustainable and responsible in the long term.
• Stakeholder Engagement: CBRE maintains open communication with its stakeholders, including investors, employees, clients, and communities. They regularly engage with stakeholders and gather feedback to inform their ESG strategy and progress.

Beyond these examples, CBRE demonstrates leadership in ESG through:

• Transparency: They publish comprehensive sustainability reports outlining their ESG goals, progress, and challenges.
• Collaboration: They actively collaborate with industry peers, NGOs, and policymakers to advance sustainable practices in the real estate sector.
• Innovation: They continuously seek innovative solutions to address ESG challenges and promote sustainability within the built environment.

CBRE's best practices on ESG serve as a model for other companies in the real estate industry and beyond. By integrating these principles into their core business strategies, companies can contribute to a more sustainable and responsible future for all.

Looking Ahead: Building on Success

Earning the number 3 ranking on the Barron's list is a significant achievement for CBRE, but the company remains committed to continuous improvement and further solidifying its ESG leadership position. Moving forward, CBRE will continue to:

• Set ambitious sustainability goals and track progress towards achieving them.
• Foster innovation and collaboration to address emerging ESG challenges.
• Engage transparently with stakeholders and communicate progress on its sustainability journey.

CBRE's ascent to the number 3 position on the Barron's Most Sustainable U.S. Companies List is a well-deserved recognition of its commitment to ESG principles. This achievement serves as an inspiration for other companies to integrate sustainability into their core strategies and contribute to building a more sustainable and equitable future.

Sources:

• CBRE Group, Inc.: https://www.cbre.com/
• Barron's: https://www.barrons.com/
• Calvert Research and Management: https://www.calvert.com/about-calvert.php
• CDP: https://www.cdp.net/en

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