We need to scale best practice globally. Many cities are only just starting on their decarbonization journey and can learn much from the successes, and the mistakes, of the leading cities. But far too often, they’re going down their own unique route.

Partnerships at all levels will be crucial to pool resource and knowledge, to share best practice, to educate and accelerate, to help scale technology, and to create the right balance between regulation, incentivization, coercion and advocacy. As decarbonization ramps up, we must bring with us the long tail of smaller landlords, investors and occupiers who often lack the knowledge and resource to take action independently.

City governments have a key role to play in creating the infrastructure, frameworks, laws and incentives for all stakeholders to be successful. In particular, they need to drive the greening of local energy grids, over which the real estate industry has little direct control.

And while decarbonization is the end goal, it must be pursued in tandem with social equity, affordability, biodiversity and climate adaptation.