DWS’s incorporation of ESG considerations into its investment philosophy includes a proactive focus on implementing preventative measures to mitigate climate risk. This approach yields more value to the property and investors as the alternative of responding to a catastrophic and damaging climate event after the fact often proves to be far more costly. To determine the climate risks in its U.S. real estate portfolio, DWS piloted a climate risk assessment strategy focused on East Coast properties that had already experienced climate-related floods and hurricanes in the past.