News analysis

In the second instalment of this special series, Environment Analyst examines how consultancies are responding internally to the complex challenges of climate change mitigation and measuring their wider sustainability impacts.

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.

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.

The UK’s largest sustainability and circular economy consultancies are pushing ahead with global expansion plans, announcing acquisitions in the US, Germany and Australia.

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.

Now a service partner of Google Cloud, ERM says the collaboration will boost the consultancy’s sustainability offering with additional data-driven capability.

Greenomy and Watershed, both recently partnered with the newly-rebranded UK-headquartered global consultancy, provide ESG reporting and net zero accounting technology respectively.

Sustainability consultancy to support cornerstone UK energy transition project with environmental and social impact assessment studies.

UK-based consultant’s sustainability report shows increasing global impact on climate, nature and social challenges. 

Agreement will enhance firm’s capabilities in climate risk analysis, greenhouse gas monitoring, impact assessment for capital projects and other purposes.

Senior business leaders have warned that widening inequalities, worsened by COVID, the Ukraine war and inflation, now threaten civil unrest.

Environmental & sustainability consultancies Anthesis, EcoAct and ERM have announced partnerships with tech firms to improve their ESG offer, while IBM says it is collaborating with the NYSE to enhance corporate ESG reporting.

Generative AI has transformational potential for the industry, but firms will need to get serious on investment, business strategy and risk mitigation in order to reap the benefits.

Move follows ERM’s acquisition of Latin American finance and ESG consultancy NINT, in March 2023.

Research reveals that companies have low levels of trust in the accuracy of ESG ratings — but will spend up to $0.5bn per year on ratings-related costs.

Global consultancy reports 29% growth in trading profit and affirms commitment to international expansion with latest acquisition, a Brazilian ESG advisory firm.

Global consulting firm’s expertise on decarbonisation, target setting and reporting to be backed by Salesforce’s Net Zero Cloud software.

Two more acquisitions for February, featuring climate and energy, and geotechnical.

GRI drafts a reporting standard for the mining industry, while ERM’s Sustainability Institute considers the ESG requirements and challenges facing the sector.

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.

Consultancy declares company-wide commitment to protecting biodiversity and publishes TNFD reporting guidance.

Flurry of industry M&A to end the year

Sustainability firm teams up with Asia Pacific partners to promote smart carbon measurement and management technology in the region.

Publications aimed at senior execs bring new approaches to climate scenario analysis and decarbonisation planning respectively.

Consultancies Arcadis, ERM and SNC-Lavalin stand with over 330 multinationals saying they are ‘doing their part’ but tougher rules are needed to go further and faster.

This year’s flagship awards event for the brownfield community featured particularly innovative applications and a record number of ‘Highly Commended’ entries.

New acquisition will boost ERM’s capabilities in crafting clients’ sustainability stories.

Report urges firms to tackle value chains first, before turning to voluntary carbon markets.

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.