Breakfast Forum - The 2026 REIT Sector Outlook

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The 2026 REIT Sector Outlook Breakfast Forum: Linking ESG Practices to Capital Access & Cost of Capital in Real Estate – Discussed by John Kalungi Kabuye, Head of ESG & Corporate Communication, Acorn Holdings Limited. Capital flows to what can be measured — and the cost of capital reflects perceived risk. ESG influences both.

In capital-intensive real estate, factors such as governance quality, energy efficiency, climate exposure, and disclosure standards directly impact earnings stability, credit spreads, equity risk premiums, and ultimately access to capital.

Investors increasingly rely on ESG data to assess performance durability, downside risk, and long-term value. Strong ESG practices can lower perceived risk, reduce volatility, tighten debt pricing, and attract long-term institutional capital.

Sustainability is no longer a compliance exercise — it is a financial strategy that shapes both capital access and cost of capital.