Varma joins the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment – the goal is zero operating emissions from buildings
The global Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment of real estate investors challenges construction and real estate companies as well as cities to set the target of carbon-neutral buildings in operation by 2030.
“Varma wants to be a forerunner in reducing the energy consumption of the properties it owns and in calling attention to building-related emissions, which play a significant role in climate change. As a major Finnish real estate investor, we have an obligation to focus efforts on reducing emissions and aiming for carbon neutrality. Achieving buildings that are zero carbon in operation calls for actions, and the goals of the commitment are in line with our own climate objectives,” says Varma’s Investment Manager, Real Estate, Johanna Haikala.
Varma’s climate goal is for the electricity and heating in its properties to be fossil-free by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
“Seven of Varma’s properties have been equipped with solar panels. In 2020, Varma began installing heat pumps in some of its residential properties, with the goal of cutting the emissions from its housing stock in half by 2023. Nearly all of Varma’s residential properties are currently using emission-free electricity,” says Haikala.
Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company is one of Finland’s largest real estate investors, with a real estate investment portfolio valued at EUR 4.6 billion at the end of March 2020. Varma provides commercial premises to companies and owns approximately 4,000 rental flats.
Buildings cause as much as one third of climate change emissions
Behind the global zero carbon commitment are significant international organisations that advocate for emissions reductions: C40 Cities, the World Green Building Council and The Climate Group.
“At the current rate of carbon emissions, the global temperature will increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius already before 2030. Buildings account for roughly one third of climate change emissions, both in Finland and globally. Therefore, representatives of the real estate industry have a major opportunity to do their part to mitigate climate change,” says Development Manager Lauri Tähtinen of Green Building Council Finland.
According to the Commitment’s definition, a net zero carbon building is highly energy efficient and powered from renewable energy sources, with any remaining carbon balance offset annually.
“Our goal is to use renewable forms of energy in our buildings, for instance wind and solar power, supplemented if necessary by emission-free purchased electricity and heating. Our aim is to reach zero carbon in line with our targets, without the need to offset the carbon emissions from our buildings’ energy consumption,” says Haikala.
The Commitment has been signed by 96 entities worldwide.
Further information
Johanna Haikala, Investment Manager, Real Estate, Varma, tel. 040 820 6696, johanna.haikala@varma.fi
Suvi Vesterinen, Communications Manager, Varma, tel. 040 555 8029, suvi.p.vesterinen@varma.fi
Lauri Tähtinen, Development Manager, Green Building Council, tel. 040 486 5400, firstname.lastname@figbc.fi
Keywords
Links
About Varma
Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company is a responsible and solvent investor. The company is responsible for the statutory earnings-related pension cover of some 900,000 people in the private sector. Premiums written totalled EUR 5.3 billion in 2019 and pension payments stood at EUR 5.9 billion. The company’s investment portfolio amounted to EUR 46.3 billion at the end of March 2020. www.varma.fi.
Green Building Council Finland is Finland’s most influential and broad co-operation network for the built environment. GBC Finland brings solutions that support a carbon neutral, circular economy and a sustainable lifestyle as a natural part of all real estate and construction industry operations. www.figbc.fi.
Subscribe to releases from Varma
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Varma by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Varma
Muistutuskutsu medialle: Varman Q1-osavuositulos ja vastuullinen sijoittaminen murroksessa24.4.2024 09:35:19 EEST | Kutsu
Varma julkistaa Q1-osavuosituloksen perjantaina 26.4.2024 klo 9. Samalla järjestämme tiedotustilaisuuden median edustajille.
Kutsu taustoittavaan mediatilaisuuteen: Miten työ kuormittaa eri toimialoilla?18.4.2024 11:22:48 EEST | Tiedote
Mikä on työkyvyn tila ja miten työ kuormittaa eri toimialoilla? Miten voimme edistää työkykyä vaikuttavasti? Millainen on mielenterveyttä tukeva työpaikka? Varman tutkimusyksikkö on koostanut raporttisarjan työn kuormitustekijöistä, työkyvyttömyydestä ja työkyvyn edistämisestä eri toimialoilla.
Varma in top one per cent for the third time in EcoVadis sustainability assessment18.4.2024 09:03:52 EEST | Press release
EcoVadis, a globally recognised business sustainability rating provider, has awarded Varma the Platinum EcoVadis Medal. Varma’s sustainability practices were rated as excellent, and we ranked in the top one per cent among the over 100,000 companies analysed.
Kutsu medialle: Varman Q1-osavuositulos17.4.2024 10:37:45 EEST | Kutsu
Varma julkistaa Q1-osavuosituloksen perjantaina 26.4.2024 klo 9. Samalla järjestämme tiedotustilaisuuden median edustajille.
Varma nousi kolmatta kertaa terävimpään kärkeen kansainvälisessä EcoVadis-vastuullisuusarvioinnissa12.4.2024 11:19:00 EEST | Tiedote
Yritysten vastuullisuutta kansainvälisesti arvioiva EcoVadis on myöntänyt Varmalle platinatason tunnustuksen (Platinum EcoVadis Medal). Varman vastuullisuuskäytännöt arvioitiin erinomaisiksi, ja ylsimme yhden prosentin parhaimmistoon yli 100 000 analysoidun yrityksen joukossa.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom