Geopolitical and economic challenges are not leaving the commercial real estate market unaffected. But how will these major global changes impact the Czech investment market in 2022? This is the question an expert panel, moderated by Mark Richardson (Colliers), at Prague Property Forum 2022 tried to answer.

Slovak developer Corwin has announced that its office projects in Bratislava and Ljubljana will soon join the list of LEED Zero Carbon certified carbon neutral buildings of which there are only 8 in existence at the moment.

Skanska's commercial development business unit in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) appointed new directors responsible for the developing and leading teams in Environmental and Health & Safety areas.

Increasing costs of energy and construction materials have visibly reinforced the need to think about the carbon footprint of the real estate industry through construction and building efficiencies. Benjamin Perez-Ellischewitz, Principal at Avison Young in Hungary talked to Property Forum about the impacts of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine on the real estate market and shared his thoughts about companies’ evolving approach toward ESG.

Seldom does a “one size fit all” approach work in ESG, says Adam Targowski MRICS, CTP’s recently appointed Group Head of ESG. He talked to Property Forum in detail about the meaning of these three magic letters for him and the company.

Property development and investment group Crestyl appointed Alena Líškay Králíková as its ESG manager in May. In her newly created position, she will be responsible for developing and overseeing the company's environmental, social responsibility and corporate governance policies and practices.

As Head of Workplace Strategy in Poland, Mariola will continue to develop her local team and implement new technologies in such areas as workplace strategy, change management, WELL certification and ESG in response to the growing expectations of clients and the changing business environment. Mariola is a member of Cushman & Wakefield’s sustainability team with key responsibility for WELL certification.

User data is highly valuable for smart buildings to create the best user experience possible and to help achieve ESG goals. The possibilities are endless and their only limit is related to privacy settings. Recently, Property Forum was invited to visit Drees & Sommer’s new net energy-plus HQ building in Stuttgart and to learn about the latest trends in building technology and sustainable development.

Ghelamco launches the construction of photovoltaic farms with a total capacity of 10 MW. By 2024 the company intends to achieve energy neutrality. Warsaw UNIT will be the first skyscraper in Poland powered entirely by clean electricity.

ESG can lead to a fundamental transformation of today’s business environment but for that to happen the approach of both landlords and tenants must change, according to the participants of the ESG panel at Prague Property Forum 2022.