Challenging the long-held belief that sustainability must come at a premium, a coalition convened by The Resiliency Company has launched “From Vulnerability to Value: A Risk Mitigation Playbook to Drive Resilient Development” (CRE Playbook). With significant contributions from industry leaders, including JLL, Ryan Companies US, Inc. and the Urban Land Institute, the playbook is now available as a free resource, offering a practical method for turning climate resilience into a competitive advantage.
In 2024 alone, global insured losses from natural disasters reached $137 billion, and weather-related events are rising 5 to 7 percent annually. Meanwhile, commercial real estate insurance premiums have surged 88 percent nationwide in the past five years, leaving developers, investors and owners increasingly at risk. And insurance costs are expected to double by 2040 for commercial buildings in the United States. The stakes are immense, and effective collaboration is critical to managing risk across the entire value chain.
“The financial threat from disasters and extreme weather is immense, but so is the opportunity for those who lead,” said Abby Ross, CEO of The Resiliency Company. “We initiated this effort because a reactive, compliance-based approach to resilience is no longer sufficient. This playbook represents a fundamental shift in mindset: from viewing resilience as a cost to be managed, to seeing it as a core driver of asset value, investor confidence, and long-term profitability. It’s the tool our industry needs to build for the future.”
Drawing on collective insights from 55 industry leaders across design, construction, real estate, finance, insurance and other sectors, representing a combined $2.5 trillion in market capitalization, the playbook offers a framework designed to connect stakeholders and facilitate risk mitigation throughout the development lifecycle.
“We recognized a collective need for a cross-sector resource that allows all stakeholders to work together and have more transparent discussions around navigating and proactively preparing for climate risk,” said Joe Rozza, chief sustainability officer at Ryan Companies. “This playbook, which outlines best practices and supportive tools, is the most cohesive document we have at our disposal to evaluate joint mitigation options and decide the right next steps in creating a more climate-resistant CRE industry.”
The CRE Playbook provides clear, actionable frameworks and practical strategies for identifying, assessing and mitigating climate-related risks. It addresses physical risks, such as wildfires, flooding and extreme heat, alongside transition risks driven by regulatory, technological and financial shifts.
“As a leading global commercial real estate company, JLL recognizes that our clients need actionable guidance to navigate the convergence of economic headwinds, escalating extreme weather events, and rapidly changing regulations,” said Janika McFeely, vice president and co-lead of the Climate and Decarbonization Practice at JLL. “This Playbook fills a critical gap by providing stakeholder-specific best practices that demonstrate how forward-thinking risk management isn’t merely defensive—it’s a strategic differentiator that unlocks premium valuations, enhanced access to capital, and long-term market leadership in an increasingly challenging environment.”
“This playbook builds on ULI’s decade-plus history of helping leaders across the land use and real estate industry proactively confront climate risk and convert it into opportunity,” said Lindsay Brugger, vice president, Resilience, at the Urban Land Institute. “By helping stakeholders across the real estate value chain assess and address evolving risks, this playbook offers a path to ensuring the places where we live, work, and play thrive long into the future.”
The complete CRE Playbook is now available to download at: https://resiliency.com/climate-risk-management-playbook.
