What is an ESG consultant?

An ESG consultant is a specialist adviser who helps organisations measure, report and act on their environmental, social and governance performance.

Engagements start with a materiality assessment - identifying which sustainability issues carry the most risk and opportunity for the business. The consultant establishes emissions baselines, designs reporting for frameworks like CSRD, GRI and ISSB and sets time-bound improvement targets.

Day-to-day, this involves selecting data collection tools, training teams on carbon accounting, engaging suppliers for primary emissions data and preparing disclosures that survive assurance. A good ESG consultant turns regulatory obligations into structured programmes that reduce risk, cut cost and strengthen the organisation's position with investors, lenders and customers.