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Public Regulatory Trends in Sustainable Real Estate

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Sustainable Real Estate

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss the three main instruments which planning authorities can use to influence the uptake of sustainable development practices: forward planning, development controls and development incentives. The potential of mandatory disclosure and integrated reporting to mainstream sustainability as a decision criterion is explored, with international examples offering guidance on how the public sector can guide industry in the adoption and implementation of sustainable practices. Finally, this chapter assesses the role of public-sector sustainable procurement practices in stimulating the green economy. It proposes three recommendations to improve the efficacy of public policy to increase the uptake of sustainable development practice across both public and private sectors. A common thread in these recommendations is the need for a collaborative approach creating stakeholder buy in and a need to resource the application of the UN Sustainable Development Goals at all levels of planning policy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For more information on the Durham Strategic plan, performance measurement and reporting, see: www.clearpointstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/City-of-Durham.pdf.

  2. 2.

    For more information about the Sustainable Sydney 2030 Plan, see: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/towards-2030.

  3. 3.

    For more information about the Ministerial Statement of Priorities for the Greater Sydney Commission, January 2016, go to: https://gsc-public-1.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2016_-_2018_ministerial_statement_of_priorities_for_the_greater_sydney_commission.pdf.

  4. 4.

    For more information about the 100 Resilient Cities program and participating cities, visit: http://www.100resilientcities.org/.

  5. 5.

    More information can be found at: www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/s048509.pdf.

  6. 6.

    More information can be found at: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/zoning/glossary.page.

  7. 7.

    More information can be found at: www.planning.org/divisions/planningandlaw/propertytopics.htm.

  8. 8.

    The Executive Order by Mayor Martin J. Walsh on December 9, 2015 can be found at: https://www.cityofboston.gov/news/uploads/2868_55_10_12.pdf. Additional explanation can be found at: https://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=20463.

  9. 9.

    More information about the New York City’s Inclusionary Housing Program can be found at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/ia/gprb/downloads/pdf/NYC_Planning_InclusionaryZoning.pdf and https://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/zoning/districts-tools/affordable-housing-production-in-ih.page.

  10. 10.

    A more in-depth discussion of Cleveland’s efforts related to amending their zoning code to promote sustainable development can be found at: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/cwp/sus_oview.php.

  11. 11.

    The Town of Empire, Wisconsin Zoning Ordinance can be reviewed at: http://www.fdlco.wi.gov/home/showdocument?id=6525.

  12. 12.

    More information can be found at: www.dilgp.qld.gov.au/planning/framework/previous/sustainable-planning-act-2009.html.

  13. 13.

    An Urban Land Institute (ULI) case study with additional details can be found at: casestudies.uli.org/bullitt-center/#planning.

  14. 14.

    The Bullitt Center Achieves Full Living Building Challenge Petal Certification! Published June 26, 2015 at: http://www.bullitt.org/2015/06/26/the-bullitt-center-achieves-full-living-building-challenge-petal-certification/.

  15. 15.

    NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) is a national rating system that measures the environmental performance of Australian buildings, tenancies, and homes in the areas of energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, and indoor environment quality to rate its impact on the environment.

  16. 16.

    In a personal phone interview with the author on May 5, 2014.

  17. 17.

    For information about other state and local government green building incentives and a discussion on how to determine which incentives best meet the needs of both local governments and property developers, see American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Local leaders in sustainability: Green building incentive trends—strengthening communities, building green economies. The American Institute of Architects, 2012, at: www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab093472.pdf.

  18. 18.

    For more information go to: www.seattle.gov/dpd/permits/greenbuildingincentives/default.htm.

  19. 19.

    More information about MEES regulations can be found at: www.colliers.com/-/media/files/emea/uk/research/speciality/15047-a-mees-summary-flyer-v9-web.pdf?la=en-gb.

  20. 20.

    For example, according to Testa et al. (2016), public procurement accounts for an estimated 17% of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries’ gross domestic product (GDP).

  21. 21.

    A detailed discussion of the Stretch Agenda concept can be found at: www.interfacecutthefluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/The-Stretch-Agenda-Breakthrough-in-the-Boardroom.pdf.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Pernille H. Christensen

  2. University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Jeremy Gabe

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  1. Pernille H. Christensen
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Correspondence to Pernille H. Christensen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, John Molson School of Business Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Thomas Walker  & Lisa N. Hasan  & 

  2. Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Cary Krosinsky

  3. Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Cary Krosinsky

  4. John Molson School of Business Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Stéfanie D. Kibsey

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Christensen, P.H., Gabe, J. (2019). Public Regulatory Trends in Sustainable Real Estate. In: Walker, T., Krosinsky, C., Hasan, L.N., Kibsey, S.D. (eds) Sustainable Real Estate. Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business In Association with Future Earth. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94565-1_4

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