News analysis
English-speaking world dominates latest E&S consulting M&As
Notable acquirers in the environmental and sustainability advisory space in recent weeks include Anthesis, NV5, WSP and ERM, demonstrating interests in climate data management and reporting, social justice and GIS.
Impact update: consultancies advance their climate leadership journeys
Environment Analyst delves into the latest crop of annual ESG and sustainability reports from professional service firms to assess progress in climate action and disclosure, as the march towards science-based net zero continues.
Cross-sector collaboration to push planning reform for net zero
Multi-stakeholder initiative aims to influence the UK planning system ahead of the election, to help streamline delivery of energy projects that meet climate goals — without compromising local environments.
UK pioneers geospatial tech for biodiversity improvements
Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is revolutionising the processes required for delivering biodiversity mandates and improvements — and the UK is setting the bar.
SBTi removes climate pledges of top consultancies before revisiting offsets rule
Consultancies are among those with long-term carbon reduction commitments marked as ‘removed’ from the SBTi dashboard, although an update to its offsets policy could see a reversal of some of these.
More consultancies disclose to CDP, but fewer make ‘A list’
Firms must pick up the pace of decarbonisation and disclosure with high-quality ESG data, or risk being downgraded. Environment Analyst scrutinises the latest CDP climate scores for consultancies.
Spring budget misses growth potential of net zero
The spring budget included some boosts for the UK’s net zero ambitions, alongside incentives for waste management and planning, but missed the opportunity to deliver a coherent green strategy that could also address economic growth.
Whole systems approach must underpin sustainable urban development
Reducing carbon emissions from the built environment requires a move away from silo-based carbon counting towards a circular, whole systems approach, or the ‘super cities’ of the future risk being environmental disasters.
PE investors enable UK sustainability specialists’ ongoing expansion
The UK’s largest sustainability and circular economy consultancies are pushing ahead with global expansion plans, announcing acquisitions in the US, Germany and Australia.
Diversity in people and skills will power a just transition
Diverse workplaces and new skills will be critical to the energy sector’s chances of delivering an equitable and successful low-carbon transition.
Skills bottleneck could jeopardise biodiversity net gain
Defra’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) has been described as the most ambitious biodiversity policy in the world. But the growing shortage of ecologists in consultancy and planning could be a major constraint on its success.
Hydrogen strategy starts to deliver but lacks long-term vision
The UK government has backed up its commitment to green hydrogen — part of the country’s decarbonisation strategy — with policies and funding rounds. But to maintain momentum it needs to ramp up ambition, say experts.
Policy transformations could make nuclear viable
A radical new roadmap for nuclear power will only succeed if three ducks are correctly aligned: finance, planning and site availability. This time, they just might be.
Catching up with CBAM: heavy industry is impatient for action
The UK will implement carbon border taxes in 2027. Better late than never, say manufacturers, trade bodies and the public.
On the ground and global: Nestlé tackles sustainability at scale
The world’s largest food and beverage company is nothing if not ambitious when it comes to sustainability. Attendees at Environment Analyst’s 2023 UK Summit got a taste of its approach.
Expert Opinion: How AI can give rivers a voice
Using AI and machine learning to interpret data from sensors in water sources can help anticipate and minimise polluting or flooding events.
Centring sustainability: from concept to construction, and beyond
Experts from leading environmental & sustainability consulting firms took part in our Sustainability Delivery Group roundtable to discuss the sustainability objectives of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
Summit picks out opportunities through the headwinds
Legislation, net zero and nature offer consistent opportunities, despite political inertia and the skills shortage, conclude participants at EA’s UK business summit.
Business Summit 2023: roundtable round-up
Social issues, the circular economy, DEI and geothermal heat were among the issues covered at the roundtable sessions at Environment Analyst's 2023 UK Business Summit in London.
Engineering workforce lacks sustainability skills
Survey reveals UK engineering firms are ill-equipped to mitigate climate change impacts due to lack of specialist knowledge in the workforce.
FCA introduces stringent investment disclosure regime
The FCA has confirmed a package of sustainability-focused disclosure requirements designed to prevent greenwashing and improve trust within the UK sustainable investment market.
KPMG to oversee offshore wind growth plan
The UK has the second largest installed offshore wind capacity in the world and a target to more than treble capacity by 2030 to 50GW.
English cities to enjoy green investment boost
Pilot projects will help lever private investment into insulation retrofit, renewable energy, heat pumps and deploying green buses.
WSP says London needs ‘step change’ to achieve net zero
Study calls for businesses to align with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and for the private and public sector to collaborate on campaigns.
North and south to benefit from green jobs
Jobs will come from low carbon energy and heat, low-emission vehicles and infrastructure and energy efficiency.
Farming cooperatives offer environmental benefits
Environmental farming clusters are providing opportunities for investors and traders seeking climate, nutrient and BNG credits.
New funding for nature but experts say it ‘won’t go far’
Newly designated protected landscapes, which cover nearly 25% of land in England, are awarded £15m under the latest nature package.
Passion not profit drives new force for nature
The Lifescape Project shows how a non-standard approach to biodiversity consultancy can produce great results for nature — and rapid growth. CEO Adam Eagle explains.
Global majors reveal strong results on enhanced sustainability advisory focus
Environment & new energy business helps drive AECOM's record backlog. Jacobs firms up spin-out deal to concentrate on high-end climate & sustainable infrastructure solutions. Both confident in FY24 expectations.
Pentatonic launches AI-based green law tracker
AI-enabled tool clarifies legal obligations across the world and helps companies to create implementation plans.