News analysis

The UK’s social value model for public sector procurement, strengthened by new legislation, will underpin investment programmes whichever party wins the election. Its influence is spreading across the world, as a way of levering social and environmental sustainability gains into government spending.

Is it possible to prioritise the quality of client deliverables and wellbeing of employees whilst optimising financial objectives? If any industry should be leading the transformation away from the ‘growth at any cost’ model it is this one. 

Insight: The next five-year asset management programme (AMP8) could see £96bn spent on improving Anglo-Welsh water infrastructure. As consultants prepare for unprecedented levels of demand, we ask: how have we got here, and how could the next five years change the course of the water sector?

Report by climate consulting experts calls for better coordination across multilateral and bilateral sources, greater flexibility and simplified access requirements.

INSIGHT: Brexit has released environmental assessments from EU rules, leading to UK government plans for environmental outcomes reports. But will this result in a streamlined process, requiring more or less input from specialist consultants?

Scotland's new national planning framework provides a platform to address climate and biodiversity crises through environmental impact assessment, concluded the 2023 Scotland EIA conference.

Industry-first database will provide detailed carbon estimating and breakdown calculations for UK infrastructure projects as an open-access benchmark tool. 

New renewable energy developer will help deliver government target of generating more than a gigawatt of locally-owned energy by 2030.

Collaboration with flood-risk data firm Fathom will enable global consulting major to predict flood risk under a range of climate scenarios and time horizons.

Expanding capacity while maintaining rigorous standards is one of many challenges facing the targets organisation. Its newly appointed chief impact officer spoke with Environment Analyst about the task ahead.

Mott MacDonald is extending its offering from the disciplines of engineering design and project development into strategic advisory. Andy Moulds, head of the new service for UK and Europe, gives Environment Analyst the low-down.

International design, engineering, science and risk management consultancy BMT becomes the twelfth member of Environment Analyst’s Sustainability Delivery Group, as our new ESG-focused working group also debuts.

COP27 is being heralded as the COP of implementation. Ahead of the meeting, Environment Analyst explores the prospects and hopes for environmental and sustainability consulting leaders.

Analysis: The economy has been battered, the policy environment is conflicted. Environment Analyst talked to senior figures from Atkins, AECOM and Mott MacDonald about trading in confusing times.

Mott MacDonald and the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment say tool's focus leads to better performance, less maintenance and fewer negative impacts for infrastructure projects.

EA’s latest industry data and research report reveals emergence of the sector's own ‘big four’ as environmental & sustainability consulting market sees record M&A activity and solid post-COVID recovery. 

Environmental & sustainability early career professionals have their say on sector entry routes, job satisfaction, retention and the skills crisis in Environment Analyst’s latest survey.

Kenya’s energy supply is dominated by renewables but fossil fuels, including coal, continue to produce high emissions.

RPS UK&I consulting head is considering his next move; while at Mott MacDonald Richard Risdon replaces Cathy Travers, post-promotion.

Lead consultant Royal HaskoningDHV, alongside partner consultants Mott MacDonald have been tasked with producing an environmental impact assessment report and a natural impact statement for Irish offshore wind park

Experts from AECOM and Mott MacDonald discuss how the world’s leading economies are weaning themselves off gas and developing alternatives at scale. They explore the pressing energy issues of the coming two decades. 

Environment Analysts' Top 100 firms appear prominently in FT’s fifth annual rating of the UK’s leading management consultants and environmental & sustainability (E&S) advisers

Secretary of state’s concerns centre on green belt protection, climate change, and flooding

Nine consultants secure environmental roles under £1.7bn, four-year agreement from the Crown Commercial Service

Under last year’s green recovery programme, Defra brought forward £300m of funding dedicated to designing and enhancing river habitats

Natural capital is playing a growing role in policymaking and environmental consultancy

Heralded by government as the biggest ever investment in Britain’s rail network, the revised plan has met with fierce criticism

Insight report: In a world facing climate and biodiversity jeopardy, which is reeling from COVID-19, EA investigates how legislation designed for UK procurement contracts is gaining international influence

Mott MacDonald’s Luke Strickland provides a compelling case for how technology can finally help us achieve outcome-focused environmental assessment

Firm joins partnership to advance the aims and ambition of the Northern Powerhouse