The Environment and Real Estate: How Boston Developers Are Responding to an Evolving Landscape

Abstract

Today, the impacts of climate change and the effort to diminish its drivers and mitigate its consequences are disrupting the global economy. Given the inherent intersection between real estate and the economy, this disruption presents unique challenges and opportunities within the field of real estate development. In fact, the real estate industry may be at an inflection point towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Yet, with change comes confusion as stakeholders across the real estate spectrum work to respond to this emerging reality.

This paper provides a broad overview of the evolving landscape of real estate development in the Boston market as it relates to sustainability and the environment. Through its investigation, this paper seeks to elucidate how best-in-class developers in the Boston market are responding to these new market changes. Through this analysis, this paper endeavors to provide a contemporary high-level summary, albeit partial, of the intersection between real estate development, sustainability and environmental risk. The ultimate hope is that this work, and future investigations, will enable the sharing of best practices across the industry.