Sustainable Real Estate: Creating a Better Built Environment

Creating and operating the built environment accounts for over a third of all greenhouse gas emissions.1 The real estate sector plays a significant role in driving – but also addressing – the climate emergency and other critical sustainability issues like resource scarcity and social inequality. At the same time, the sector depends on natural resources, a stable climate and a thriving society, and must therefore consider key sustainability issues for its own survival. The sector therefore needs to be reimagined to support a sustainable future for all. Adopting sustainable practices improves long-term resilience and increases competitive advantage. As the market changes, those who evolve and adopt these practices stand to benefit from "green leases” and other sustainability-linked financing, operational cost savings, better energy performance and more. These practices also help organisations enhance their reputation and reduce investment risks while meeting increasing statutory demands and stakeholder requirements. On the Sustainable Real Estate: Creating a Better Built Environment online short course, you’ll learn how to mitigate risks and find opportunities associated with sustainability challenges in the built environment. Designed by expert faculty from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), the course explores how sustainability intersects with various aspects of the real estate sector, such as design, technology, policy and finance. With an overview of industry trends and emerging risks, you’ll examine how sustainable real estate can contribute to a more resilient and inclusive society, and positively impact communities and the natural environment. Towards the end of this eight-week course, you’ll develop a personal action plan to deliver a sustainable outcome in your own context. This strategy will help you realise the role you and your organisation can play in improving the sustainability of the built environment around you, your supply chains and the broader real estate network. 1 World Economic Forum (June, 2024). This course is for professionals who want to understand the sustainability challenges facing the real estate sector, and seek the knowledge to address those challenges. By taking this course, you'll prioritise sustainability goals and gain insights relevant to both public and private sectors. Real estate developers, entrepreneurs, city planners, architects, engineers and other built environment professionals will learn some of the latest planning, design and technology considerations, uncovering both risks as well as opportunities in sustainable development. Public sector professionals will have the opportunity to study the impact of a sustainable real estate sector on social and environmental systems, and explore solutions to related built environment challenges. Investment professionals will realise the impact of climate change and social inequality on real estate investments, as well as the value in sustainable built assets and businesses. All students also benefit from two live CISL Connect sessions which bring together professionals from across sectors and geographies, broadening perspectives and expanding learning beyond a given cohort. 3c:Tf64, <

• On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:An understanding of the key issues affecting sustainability in the real estate sector, and their solutions. Insight into how sustainability connects communities and delivers social and business value, with systems thinking skills to integrate sustainable measures. A strategy for encouraging action and driving sustainability in your organisation or spheres of influence. A broader network and meaningful peer relationships that strengthen your connection with the wider Cambridge sustainability community. Unlimited access to edX's Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.