realestate

Industry leaders convene for ESG and decarbonization innovation summit

Industry leaders gather for roundtable discussions on ESG, decarbonization, and financial risk.

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n the realm of global finance, a gathering of industry titans convened to tackle the most pressing challenges and opportunities in ESG, decarbonization, and financial risk. BuildingMinds, the pioneering AI-powered real estate data platform, orchestrated four exclusive roundtable discussions at MIPIM 2025.

    The first session, "ESG Innovation for Logistics Owners & Occupiers," brought together a who's who of logistics leaders to explore the intersection of sustainability and modernization. Moderated by Emily Jones of NW1 Partners, the panelists – including Logan Smith of Hines Europe, Oliver Winchcombe of Panattoni UK, Melissa Mikulic of Zurich Insurance, and Harvey James of BuildingMinds – delved into the transformative power of grid modernization, automation, and innovative infrastructure like solar-powered warehouses.

    As the logistics sector grapples with its significant carbon footprint, sustainable supply chains have become a non-negotiable business imperative. With over half of logistics operators transitioning to electric fleets, ESG has emerged as a crucial factor in investment decisions, driven by regulatory demands and investor expectations.

    The second discussion, "A Sustainable Future for Commercial Asset Owners," assembled a lineup of industry thought leaders from the commercial real estate sector. Moderated by Marjolijn Versteegden-Bakker of Arcadis, Ludger Wibbeke of HANSAINVEST Hanseatische Investment, and Ana Luisa Cabrita of Cushman & Wakefield explored how climate risk assessments and decarbonization strategies now inform asset valuations. They also discussed the growing demand for real-time carbon performance and biodiversity impact metrics to shape asset financing.

    As commercial real estate shifts from compliance-driven to ESG-driven asset management, the need for data transparency that delivers measurable ESG impact has become increasingly pressing. The discussions then turned to the hospitality sector, where industry experts – including Julia Skeete of SOM, Nicolas Ledoux of Arcadis, Jean-François Ott of Courbet Heritage, Richard Piovano of Schindler, Jerzy Wójcik of JWA, and José Pereira of BuildingMinds – examined the challenges and opportunities in crafting sustainable real estate assets.

Industry leaders gather at summit for ESG and decarbonization innovation discussions globally.