Investa embeds ESG ambition driving market-leading outcomes for commercial office buildings
Australian property leader acts on net zero ambitions
The CEFC invested $110 million in equity as part of a $600 million capital raising for the Investa Commercial Property Fund in 2016 and continues to support Investa’s improved net zero ambitions.
$110m
CEFC equity
Landmark
agreement
Net zero
achievement
Investors working to fulfil ambitious targets now are positioning themselves ahead of the game. Assets that operate at lower emissions levels are more competitive in a global economy, where evidence of sustainable practices is increasingly important.Rory LonerganChief Investment Officer – Infrastructure and Alternatives
Our investment
Investa Commercial Property Fund (ICPF) has an ambition of net zero by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. It is committed to a 40 per cent reduction in tenant electricity emissions by 2030 and building electrification plans that involve replacing end-of-life equipment and gas with electrical infrastructure by 2040.
The CEFC invested $110 million in equity as part of a $600 million capital raising for the ICPF in 2016. At that time, ICPF had an ambition to achieve Australia’s first approved real estate Science Based Target. The SBT Initiative verified the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2040, in 2019.
The CEFC investment originally supported the development of a landmark energy efficient building at Sixty Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD. Investa created an online resource which provided insights into the sustainability of ICPF assets and supported tenants to progress their own decarbonisation.
The continued CEFC backing of ICPF net zero ambitions through its equity commitment demonstrates how Investa is employing best practice sustainability initiatives and outperforming its targets to create positive long-term sustainability outcomes in the property sector.
our impact
ICPF net zero ambitions journey
ICPF is an open-ended core wholesale fund with a responsible investment framework that embeds environmental, social and governance (ESG)-focused practices into core activities.
ICPF had $6 billion of assets under management at March 2025, consisting of 16 commercial CBD assets across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth.1 The fund has achieved a 5-star rating against the international GRESB benchmark.
ICPF reached net zero in Scope 1 and 2 and operational Scope 3 emissions in 2024 for core managed buildings in the fund, one year ahead of target. The achievement reflected a continued focus on managing buildings efficiently, procuring 100 per cent renewable electricity for 100 per cent of managed buildings and a carbon offset strategy for residual emissions.
ICPF was Australia's first real estate fund to issue a green bond, certified by the Climate Bond Initiative in 2017. The CEFC supported the bond with a cornerstone commitment of $19 million. The fund has aligned its portfolio’s emissions performance to the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) emissions threshold, which requires the portfolio to perform in the top 15 per cent in their relative city in carbon intensity. In 2024, the fund achieved its target of 100 per cent green debt.
The ICPF ESG strategy, Transform Tomorrow, defines its focus on future opportunities and responsibilities, challenging teams to look for innovative ways to manage buildings and investments on behalf of owners and in return delivers a more resilient business for the future.
ICPF investors are committed to the Fund demonstrating ESG leadership and support sustainability initiatives. ICPF recognised the global shift to sustainable debt some years ago and has outperformed our goal to achieve 100 per cent green debt by 2025.Brendan LoobyFund Manager ICPF
Award-winning sustainability
The 33-storey premium grade office building Sixty Martin Place was developed as a sustainably designed and built landmark targeting a Green Star office rating of six stars, a NABERS Energy rating of five stars and WELL Certified Platinum rating. The investment also established a landmark cooperation agreement to promote the increased uptake of energy efficiency design principles and technologies in the built environment. Sixty Martin Place won the Property Council of Australia Rider Levett Bucknall NSW Development of the Year award in 2021.
1 Investa website: Investa Commercial Property Fund
