Bridges has published its Spectrum of Real Estate Decarbonisation, a new framework to help investors assess and improve the carbon performance of real estate assets.

Decarbonising real estate is essential to achieving the Paris Agreement goals. The built environment accounts for a significant share of global emissions, so the sector must lead the way in reducing carbon. Yet for investors, the path to decarbonisation is often unclear.

Different standards and benchmarks across regions, inconsistent terminology and a lack of focus on embodied carbon make it difficult to compare assets and prioritise interventions. Bridges’ Spectrum addresses these challenges head‑on.

The framework categorises assets into four levels of carbon performance, aligned with Science‑Based Targets, and provides practical steps to accelerate progress. These steps cover both operational and embodied carbon, ensuring a holistic approach to decarbonisation.

The ultimate aim is True Zero Buildings: assets that achieve zero emissions across the full lifecycle, without reliance on offsets. This is a bold ambition but one we believe is achievable through innovation and collaboration.

Developed with insights from our investor community and industry experts, the Spectrum is intended to be a catalyst for change. By sharing this tool, we hope to encourage more dialogue, more partnerships and more action across the market.

Read the report and watch an explainer video from Bridges’ CEO Michele Giddens: