Deutsche Bank joins WorldGBC net zero signatories

The German bank has more than 1,500 assets and emits 83,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. It is among seven international organisations committing to reduce emissions.

The firms signing up to the World Green Building Council’s updated Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment are:

• CannonDesign | Architecture firm with 1,200 staff in around 200 offices worldwide
• Deutsche Bank | Employer of 84,000 staff in 2.8m sq ft, has been carbon neutral across its own operations since 2012 through offsetting
• GI Quo Vadis | Property company with 1.5m sq ft of commercial real estate in its portfolio
• Grab | Southeast Asian super app operates across deliveries, mobility and digital financial sectors in 480 cities across eight countries
• Lamington Group | Family-owned real estate investor and developer founded in 1967
• QIC Real Estate | Specialist division of QIC, which was created in 1991 by the Queensland Government. Long term holder of assets, built with sustainability in mind
• Schneider Electric | Multinational company that provides energy and digital solutions. The company has 983 buildings in its portfolio and 150 of these are operationally net zero

The commitment now has a total of 169 signatories, which includes 135 businesses and organisations, 28 cities, and six states and regions.

The businesses and organisations signed up to the commitment now account for approximately 7.2m tCO2e of portfolio emissions annually, nearly 20,000 assets and more than $415bn annual turnover.

The WorldGBC Commitment’s signatories take action to reduce and compensate for all portfolio operational carbon emissions by 2030 or earlier, and maximise reductions of embodied carbon in new developments or major renovations, compensating for any residual emissions. Signatories demonstrate annual progress via reporting and verification protocols.

Eric Corey Freed, principal and director of sustainability at CannonDesign, said: “Ideally, all buildings across society should be net zero carbon today. We’re not there yet, but we need to make it happen rapidly. Becoming a signatory of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment is a no brainer. CannonDesign is committed to leading the charge toward a net zero carbon built environment through the buildings we design and our leadership. As an industry, we are behind when it comes to combating climate change, but we are not powerless. We are excited to be part of this team and to amplify our efforts to slash carbon emissions and shape the built environment for both people and the planet.”

Jörg Eigendorf, global head of sustainability at Deutsche Bank: “At Deutsche Bank, we are embedding sustainability into our policies, products and processes. As part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability, we strive to minimise the environmental impact of our own business operations, including offices & business travel. We have been carbon neutral since 2012 and have kept reducing the absolute amount of carbon emissions since then. We have extended our efforts to reduce our supply chain’s environmental impact & reduce the emissions associated with the goods and services we purchase. Signing the WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment reinforces our commitment to positive climate action.”