Research ahead of the MIPIM global real estate convention in France challenges growing perceptions that ESG, or sustainability, is “losing ground”, according to the event’s organisers and real assets sustainability benchmark GRESB.
The survey of 180 real estate professionals, made up primarily of investors, fund managers and developers, found that sustainability remains a core priority for investors and managers, despite recent language shifts around ESG.
MIPIM and GRESB launched the new sustainability survey in October and November 2025 with their respective real estate networks and found that two-thirds of respondents still see sustainability as central to their strategy, with nearly half planning to do more in 2026.
Only 4% expect to do less to measure and improve sustainability performance in 2026, while 44% plan to do more and 51% will maintain current levels
However, 29% of firms have changed how they talk about sustainability and 14% now avoid the term ESG altogether.
Nearly two in five respondents say physical climate impacts such as flooding, heatwaves and wildfires will have the biggest effect on asset values in 2026. Occupier demand shifts rank equally high, which MIPIM and GRESB said signalled a dual challenge for the industry.
MIPIM said the findings would be discussed at the annual event in Cannes in March.
Nicolas Boffi, MIPIM director, said: “Despite significant structural challenges around viability and a rapidly changing geopolitical climate, our delegates are telling us that sustainability remains as important as ever.
“Investor and lender requirements are driving ESG strategy, even if they no longer call it that, and access to capital increasingly depends on credible performance. Cost concerns remain a hurdle, which is why MIPIM 2026 will see sustainability play a leading role across our programme, not least on our Road to Zero platform, which will focus on the hard numbers behind decarbonisation and adaptation.”
Chris Pyke, chief innovation officer at GRESB, said: “The conversation around sustainability may be shifting, but the underlying investment drivers haven’t changed. This survey shows that sustainability remains central for most investors and managers, because it’s tied to risk management, asset value and access to capital.
“The focus is moving beyond terminology toward measurable outcomes like resilience and decarbonisation.”
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