Overview
At Oxford our mission is to create economic and social value through real estate. Our Green Financing Framework lies at the heart of these values. Established in 2022, the framework is integral to driving the transition to a low carbon economy by influencing the operations of our business to finance sustainable investments and expenditures.
The Details
Our Green Financing Framework gives Oxford the ability to issue green financing instruments such as debentures, bonds, loans and mortgages to finance investments and expenditures that have been mapped to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and aligned with the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) 2021 Green Bond Principles as well as the Loan Market Association (LMA) and Loan Syndications and Trading Association’s (LSTA) 2021 Green Loan Principles. Proceeds from the issuance of green financings will be allocated or used for investments and expenditures in the following categories:
- Green buildings
- Renewable energy
- Energy efficiency
- Clean transportation
- Sustainable water and wastewater management
- Pollution prevention and control
- Climate change adaption
Oxford’s green financing framework has been reviewed by Sustainalytics, a leading global provider of ESG research and analytics. Sustainalytics reported that Oxford’s framework is credible and impactful as well as aligned to the ICMA 2021 Green Bond Principles as well as the LMA and LSTA 2021 Green Loan Principles.
The Takeaway
Our Green Financing Framework is just one of many examples of how we are building a long history of being an industry leader in sustainability. For over a decade, it has set public energy, carbon and water usage targets for its managed portfolio and its results are reported on and audited by an independent third party. Oxford has reduced its carbon emissions intensity by 19% since 2019 and committed to reducing portfolio carbon intensity across OMERS to 50% by 2030, a meaningful step toward achieving our net zero 2050 commitment. As a result of this performance, for the past five years Oxford has been ranked by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies for its approach to carbon reduction and corporate social responsibility.
