CAMBRIDGE, MA, May 5, 2023 – Telesto Strategy Managing Director Ben Vatterott delivered a guest lecture today as part of the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s program on Real Estate Climate Action: Risk Assessment, Resilience, and Net Zero Success.

Attended by two dozen global leaders in sustainable real estate across both the public and private sectors, the program covered the full range of real estate and climate action topics, from risk assessment – turning science to action to improve real estate performance, to resilience – solutions and the benefits of being prepared, and net zero – decarbonization tools for market success.

The lecture delivered by Ben focused on net zero in real estate and recommended actions for asset managers. Topics covered included:

• Net zero trends, including an overview of recent commitments, regulations, and investors pushing building operators to lower emissions, and real estate’s unique role in reducing national and global emissions
• Understanding real estate emissions, including key drivers, benchmarks and performance standards, and abatement strategies; including both existing and emerging technologies
• The financial case for net zero interventions
• Opportunities to embed net zero approaches into real estate design, due diligence, and portfolio management
• Risks to real estate portfolios in the transition from a fossil fuel economy and supporting a just transition

Following the lecture, participants engaged in a rich discussion regarding the real-world opportunities and challenges of driving net zero in real estate. Themes discussed included data required to develop and execute net zero roadmaps; how to integrate net zero approaches with risk assessment and resilience; what net zero means for all business units including strategy, finance, engineering, and others; and the collateral benefits realized by leading with net zero.

The program was hosted by Joyce Coffee, President of Climate Resilience Consulting and Telesto board member. Ben was featured alongside fellow guest lecturers Nuin-Tara Key, Director at North America WTWCo, and Katharine Burgess, AICP, Vice President Land Use and Development at Smart Growth America.