Between January and March 2021, Urban Landpublished a series of articles chronicling the efforts of member-led task forces organized by ULI district councils in Chicago, Phoenix, Sacramento, and Tampa to address local policy and regulatory barriers to creation of healthier and more equitable places. These initiatives were part of ULI’s District Council Task Force for Health and Social Equity Project.

ULI Europe has officially launched ULI Denmark, its 15th national council. Jesper Bo Hansen, head of corporate finance at Catella, will be the chair, serving a two-year term on a voluntary basis, and will be joined by an executive committee of local industry leaders.

A new publication from ULI and Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities calls on cities worldwide to recognize their common challenges in building climate resilience. It sets out a strategy for mobilizing individuals—whether in business, government, or civic organizations, or as residents—to act as global citizens and take steps toward making their cities more climate resilient.

The climate plan outlined by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s administration is significant in that it reaffirms a commitment to addressing climate challenges, said panelists participating in a recent webinar hosted by the ULI Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance. The plan would also provide considerable resources to support and propel innovation throughout the real estate industry in key areas such as energy efficiency, carbon emission mitigation, and climate change resilience.

In early December, ULI members gathered virtually to discuss climate risk and real estate at the second annual Resilience Summit. The event’s agenda focused on how real estate and land use professionals can prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and where leadership could help shape better outcomes for the future.

The Greenlining Institute wants to build a community-centered economic system that is cooperative, regenerative, democratic, non-exploitative, and inclusive

Two Heitman executives explained how their firm applies climate risk analysis—at both the asset level and the community level—when evaluating investments. They spoke on a Virtual Fall Meeting panel announcing a new research report, Climate Risk and Real Estate: Emerging Practices for Market Assessment, recently issued by ULI and Heitman.

The ULI Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance has announced the addition of three new members to its executive board from industry-leading organizations such as JBG Smith, ZOM, HR&A.

Marnix Galle, executive chairman of Belgian developer Immobel, has been appointed ULI Europe Chairman, serving on a voluntary basis for a two-year term starting on July 1, 2020, and will join the ULI Global Board of Directors. He succeeds outgoing Europe Chairman Juergen Fenk, member of the executive board, SIGNA Holding GmbH.

Four internationally renowned real estate industry leaders have joined ULI’s Global Board of Directors, and 38 additional industry luminaries have been added to the roster of the Institute’s Global Governing Trustees. Both the Global Board members and Global Governing Trustees will serve on a voluntary basis beginning on July 1.