Insights from the inaugural GRESB Infrastructure Development Asset Assessment

The launch of the GRESB Development Asset Assessment in 2024 marked a significant step forward in evaluating the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability performance of infrastructure development projects. The inaugural assessment cycle reveals key insights into how early-stage projects approach net-zero targets, materiality, and performance gaps—reinforcing the importance of early action to embed sustainability, reduce long-term risk, and position assets for lasting value creation.

Among participating assets in the 2024 Infrastructure Development Asset Assessment, 39% have set net-zero targets. These figures align with broader sustainability policy trends, as 35% of participating entities have integrated net-zero commitments into their environmental policies. Notably, 78% of these targets also account for embodied carbon, highlighting the growing recognition of lifecycle emissions in infrastructure development.  

This data underscores an important shift: sustainability isn’t just confined to operations—it begins at the design stage, where early decisions shape long-term performance. With investors increasingly scrutinizing early-stage sustainability data to assess long-term risks and opportunities, early adoption of practices such as net-zero commitments and embodied carbon accounting can enhance project credibility and align with globally recognized frameworks such as the IIGCC. 

The assessment results indicate that energy, GHG emissions, and net-zero considerations are material for all reporting entities. Additionally, 91% of assets also identified health & safety for employees as a critical issue through the GRESB Materiality Assessment. 

Below is a breakdown of the most selected sustainability themes across various assessment indicators: 

• Environmental Policies (PO1): Biodiversity, Energy, and GHG emissions were the most commonly addressed themes. 
• Social Policies (PO2): Health & Safety in the supply chain, Health & Safety for employees, Heritage, Child Labor, Employee Engagement, and Forced / Compulsory Labor were key focus areas. 
• Environmental Risk Assessments (RM2.1): Biodiversity, Energy, GHG emissions, and Waste ranked as top priorities. 
• Social Risk Assessments (RM2.2): Health & Safety for employees and contractors, Community Development, and Human Capital were among the most commonly assessed risks. 

This data highlights the industry’s growing awareness of the environmental and social risks that accompany infrastructure development. By integrating risk and sustainability considerations into risk assessments, asset managers and investors can identify potential vulnerabilities early and develop mitigation strategies to improve long-term project viability. 

The inaugural benchmark for the GRESB Development Asset Assessment yielded an average score of 61 out of 100 points, with distinct strengths and opportunities across different aspects: 

• Strongest performing areas: Policies (97 average score), Stakeholder Engagement (77 average score), and Employees (65 average score). 
• Areas with the greatest room for improvement: Materials (38 average score) and Risk Management (47 average score). 

These findings reflect broader challenges in the sustainability journey of infrastructure projects. While policies and stakeholder engagement are generally well-established, material sourcing and risk management remain areas where significant progress is needed. This gap highlights the importance of robust sustainability frameworks in procurement and supply chain management. Ensuring responsible sourcing, managing construction risks, and improving transparency in materials selection are all areas where infrastructure developers can drive meaningful sustainability advancements. 

The launch of the Development Asset Assessment aligns with GRESB’s broader mission to enable improvements in efficiency, resilience, and risk mitigation across all phases of infrastructure projects. As a strategic partner for resilient and high-performing investments across real assets and high-impact industries, GRESB equips investors and asset managers with the actionable data and tools to not only benchmark performance and track year-on-year progress, but to also support value creation, identify best practices, and improve performance. GRESB’s standardized framework is particularly valuable for pre-operational assets, where understanding sustainability risks and opportunities early can significantly impact long-term sustainability outcomes. 

Moreover, the assessment’s tailored approach to materiality ensures that sustainability priorities align with the unique characteristics of different development stages. For example, the distinction between design risk assessments and construction risk assessments provides nuanced insights into how risks evolve over time, enabling more informed decision-making. 

The first cycle of the GRESB Development Asset Assessment provides valuable insights into the current state of sustainability in infrastructure development. While strong commitments to net zero, stakeholder engagement, and environmental policies are encouraging, there are clear opportunities to improve in areas like risk management and materials sourcing. 

As global infrastructure investment continues to expand, standardized sustainability reporting and improved data transparency will be essential for attracting capital and ensuring positive long-term project outcomes. Frameworks like the GRESB Infrastructure Development Asset Assessment not only help bridge existing gaps but also empower investors and asset managers to make more informed, responsible decisions. 

By leveraging these insights, infrastructure developers and investors can accelerate real-world impact, mitigating risks while maximizing opportunities for long-term value. The key takeaway? Resilient infrastructure begins at the development stage—where today’s design choices define tomorrow’s performance and impact.