Canada’s largest pension plans are driving green development through real estate investments

The skyscrapers of Toronto’s financial district house Canada’s largest banks, and some of its most successful companies. The buildings themselves are largely owned by Canada’s largest pension funds, which have directly developed real estate across major Canadian cities. This approach has generated high returns for the funds over the past two decades, but it has also allowed the pension funds to be leaders in the implementation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Prof. Sebastien Betermier calls it a win-win strategy that generates returns, while also being green.