Engaging financial stakeholders: opportunities for a sustainable built environment

The built environment is not exclusively influenced and shaped by the traditional supply-side and governmental (local and central) authorities. The financial sector has a significant influence on the built environment during the planning, construction, management and refurbishment stages. In particular, it exercises considerable influence on the realization of sustainable development principles in relation to an array of issues: climate change (mitigation and adaptation), energy efficiency, the closing of material cycles, and design and urban development quality. The major actors among financial stakeholders are differentiated and their various roles, interests, motives and options for influencing property and construction markets are analysed. The drivers are identified for increasing financial stakeholders' motivations and actions as positive agents for sustainable development in the built environment. The focus is on specific policy documents, instruments, products and mechanisms along with the supporting data, methods and decision-making processes.