There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.

Marshall McLuhan

The 2030 Agenda, officially known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is a global framework adopted by all United Nations member states in September 2015. It aims to address the most pressing global challenges and promote sustainable development by 2030. The agenda is based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 specific targets and covers three key dimensions: economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.

I have maintained an interest in sustainability throughout my student and working life. As a result, I have also occasionally collaborated with national and global governance agencies and with corporate sustainability functions.

Therefore, it probably comes as no surprise that I am also highly interested in the intersections and mutual inclusivity of Agenda 2030 objectives and corporate real estate management.

What follows are some key intersections between Agenda 2030 and CREM.

Sustainable Buildings & Net-Zero Goals (SDG 7, 11, 13)

Sustainable buildings minimise energy and water consumption and are a key part of sustainable urban development that seeks to combat climate change. From large skyscrapers to novel museums, below we review some of the green buildings that pave the way to more responsible urban planning. Iberdrola

Net zero is the target of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activities, which is accomplished by decreasing global emissions and abating them from the atmosphere. This is also defined as net zero carbon, which makes a balance in the atmosphere.

Possible initiatives:

Energy Efficiency – Implementing smart building technologies (IoT, AI, automation) to reduce carbon emissions.

Net-Zero & Green Buildings – Aligning with LEED, BREEAM, WELL, and other sustainable building standards.

Renewable Energy Integration – Incorporating solar panels, geothermal heating, and energy storage in corporate facilities.

Example: Companies committing to 100% renewable-powered offices as part of net-zero strategies.

ESG Compliance & Responsible Business Practices (SDG 12, 16, 17)

ESG has emerged as the leading standard for non-financial reporting among large international companies worldwide. Investors see compliance with ESG standards not just as an ethical aspect but also as a demonstration of its resilience to potential risks and ability to ensure sustainable financial growth in the long term. Thus, ESG is becoming a prerequisite for businesses that are interested in entering international markets or attracting foreign investment. United Nations Development Programme  

Responsible business practices involve both compliance with laws and conducting business operations in a manner that respects resources and societal expectations. Such conduct has the potential to strengthen brand reputation and value, systematise operations, minimise risks, and attract investments. The Government of India has developed domestic guidelines to advise companies on how to approach responsible business practices. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Possible initiatives:

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting – Tracking and disclosing sustainability KPIs in real estate portfolios.

Supply Chain & Ethical Sourcing – Ensuring sustainable procurement for building materials and facility services.

Green Leasing & Sustainable Contracts – Embedding sustainability clauses in lease agreements.

Example: CRE teams integrating carbon footprint tracking into portfolio management.

Smart Cities & Sustainable Urban Development (SDG 9, 11)

A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and businesses.[1]

A smart city goes beyond the use of digital technologies for better resource use and less emissions. It means smarter urban transport networks, upgraded water supply and waste disposal facilities and more efficient ways to light and heat buildings. It also means a more interactive and responsive city administration, safer public spaces and meeting the needs of an ageing population. European Commission

Sustainable urban development. As places of home, work and leisure, cities play a pivotal role in people’s lives. While being a major contributor to GDP, they also account for large shares of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Now more than ever, resilient, green and low-carbon cities are essential for an economically sound, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable future. Sustainable urban development policies seek to address a range of issues from managing urban expansion and congestion to fostering competitiveness, innovation, social inclusion and environmental sustainability – relevant to the achievement of SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Possible initiatives:

CRE & Smart City Infrastructure – Supporting urban sustainability through mixed-use developments & transit-oriented design.

Digital Twin Technology – Using BIM & AI for real-time urban planning & building performance optimisation.

Public-Private Collaboration – Aligning corporate real estate with government-led sustainability initiatives.

Example: Corporate real estate portfolios aligning with green urban soning laws for eco-friendly developments.

Health, Well-being  & Employee Experience (SDG 3, 8, 10)

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being of all at all ages is essential to sustainable development. Significant strides have been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common killers associated with child and maternal mortality. […] However, many more efforts are needed to fully eradicate a wide range of diseases and address many different persistent and emerging health issues. Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Neuchâtel, Switserland.

Fostering employee well-being is good for people and the organisation. Promoting well-being can help prevent stress and create positive working environments where individuals and organisations can thrive. Good health and well-being can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

MAPFRE has made a public commitment to its employees. It wants them to enjoy the best possible employee experience, and the optimum tool to achieve this is internal development and growth. MAPFRE

Possible initiatives:

Healthy Workspaces – Designing work environments that promote mental health, air quality, and biophilic design.

Diversity & Inclusion – Ensuring universal accessibility in office spaces for all employees.

Hybrid Work & Mobility Solutions – Reducing unnecessary office space and business travel to cut carbon footprints.

Example: Companies adopting “15-minute city” principles to enhance employee work-life balance.

15-minute-city principles: Everyone living in a city should have access to essential urban services within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. The 15-Minute City Project is designed to help access-focused urban transformations be what we need them to be: ambitious, inclusive, measurable and effectively implemented. The 15-Minute City Project was created by Dan Luscher, an urbanist and long-time San Francisco resident with a passion for making cities work for everyone. 15minutecity.com

Circular Economy & Waste Reduction in CRE (SDG 12, 15)

The circular economy is a model of production and consumption which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.[2]

In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible, thanks to recycling. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value. European Parliament

Waste reduction. Reducing food losses and waste is essential in a world where the number of people affected by hunger has been slowly on the rise since 2014. Tons and tons of edible food are lost and/or wasted every day.

Globally, around 13.2 per cent of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 19 per cent of total global food production is wasted in households, in the food service and in retail together… Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems. When food is lost or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food – including water, land, energy, labour and capital – go to waste. In addition, the disposal of food loss and waste in landfills leads to greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Food loss and waste can also negatively impact food security and food availability and contribute to increasing the cost of food. United Nations

Possible initiatives:

Adaptive Reuse & Sustainable Materials – Repurposing buildings rather than demolishing.

Waste Management – Implementing zero-waste strategies in corporate facilities.

Water Conservation – Smart water metering and rainwater harvesting in commercial properties.

Example: Corporations investing in low-carbon, modular office designs to minimise construction waste.

Final Thoughts: CREM as a Driver of Sustainability

Corporate Real Estate Management is a key enabler of Agenda 2030, aligning business operations with global sustainability targets. By adopting green building practices, digital innovation, and ESG strategies, CRE leaders can create more resilient, efficient, and responsible corporate spaces.

The challenge is transparent: How can CREM evolve from a cost management mindset to sustainability leadership? The answer may lie in data-driven, innovative, and ethical real estate decisions, i.e. by building better insight.

And as the bright children say, “There is no planet B”. So we’d better do this like we really mean it.

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[1] Pribyl, Ondrej, et al. “Intelligent Mobility in Smart Cities.” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 7, 2022, p. 3440.

[2] Rovinaru, Flavius, and Adina Rus. “The Economic and Ecological Impacts of Dismantling End-of-Life Vehicles in Romania.” Sustainability, vol. 11, no. 22, 2019, p. 6446.