The Invesco MSCI Green Building ETF will invest in real estate stocks and commercial REITs.

Invesco has launched a first-of-its-kind ETF focused on companies that have a “green” slant to their operations in the buildings sector – which accounts for a whopping 38% of global carbon emissions according to the UN Environment Program. The Invesco MSCI Green Building ETF (GBLD), due to list on the New York stock exchange today, will therefore be the first to “focus specifically on the green building ecosystem,” according to John Hoffman, head of ETFs and indexed strategies, Americas, at Invesco. (FT)

Invesco MSCI Green Building ETF (GBLD)

The new ETF will focus on real estate companies whose buildings are energy-efficient, utilize construction materials that are environment-friendly, and ensure a healthy internal environment.

The ETF will also hold stocks of companies that design, construct, redevelop, retrofit, or provide third-party “green” certification with the objective to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The ETF will track the MSCI Global Green Building Index, the constituents of which include large REITS and property companies such as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (AMS: URW) and Berkeley Group Holdings (LON: BKG).

To qualify for inclusion in the index, a minimum of 50% of a real estate company’s estate must be certified as “green” by a recognized body in the US or in other countries as applicable.

Global emissions and buildings

Speaking to ETF Trends CEO Tom Lydon and CIO Dave Nadig on ETF 360, Rene Reyno, Head of Thematic and Specialty Product Strategy at Invesco said:  “If we look globally around buildings, they generate around 40% of global emissions. And if you look at more urbanized areas, that can be closer to 70%. So, to have a serious conversation around the topic, green buildings have to be included. What we’re excited about is bringing the first strategy of its kind to market that’s going to target exposures globally to this theme – green buildings.”

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