Verdantix Benchmark Reveals Leading Climate Change Consultants As Firms Race To Tackle Skills Gaps And Implement Strategies

Verdantix Benchmark Reveals Leading Climate Change Consultants As Firms Race To Tackle Skills Gaps And Implement Strategies

London, UK. Major organizations across the world are focused on navigating the complex regulatory landscape, leveraging emerging climate technologies and preparing for the energy transition. Consequently, corporate leaders are moving from setting standalone ‘net zero’ climate targets to developing integrated climate transition strategies. As the market matures with intensifying competition and well-established customer needs, services firms are experiencing increasing demand for solutions that support a broad range of client needs. This has driven a surge in acquisitions of specialist firms, enabling rapid expansion of expertise and market share.

Organizations lack the internal expertise to manage the intricacies of the climate transition and the growing demands of their stakeholders. To bridge this gap, they are turning to consultancy firms to scale up their climate strategies, secure buy-in and implement climate technologies. At the same time, they are adopting a broader view of transition risks and opportunities, as new priorities such as nature, biodiversity and AI become key areas of focus. Climate change consulting firms are expanding their capabilities to meet these needs. Strategic expertise, technical proficiency and implementation capabilities are determining factors for selecting a climate change consulting provider. However, the vendor landscape remains divided between firms with extensive implementation experience and those known for strategy-focused projects, adding complexity for corporate buyers.

The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Climate Change Consulting (2025) report acts as an essential guide for senior executives responsible for climate transition initiatives to identify a best-fit provider for climate change consulting. The report highlights 12 of the most prominent consulting firms, down from 15 in 2023, with six firms – Deloitte, ERM, EY, KPMG, PwC and WSP – demonstrating the most comprehensive climate change consulting capabilities.

Key report findings :

• Market consolidation has reduced the number of key players in the market. Despite this, the landscape remains diverse, populated by the Big Four, global players and smaller specialist firms. ERM is a notable example of a boutique firm competing with global players through numerous acquisitions; other firms, such as Arcadis, offer focused expertise and excel in specialized areas. Meanwhile, firms such as Deloitte stand out for their end-to-end capabilities as well as their robust digital solutions. 
  
  

• Demand for digital services for climate change, including AI, is rising as firms look to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency. Firms such as Capgemini, PwC and EY display market-leading capabilities for digital technology implementation, and differentiate themselves through broad partnership programmes, digital transformation project management capabilities and strong proprietary digital solutions. Specifically, Capgemini offers a suite of AI solutions for climate change.
  
  
• With climate risks becoming more tangible, firms have adopted practical risk mitigation and adaptation plans, driving demand for practical climate risk management. Vendors such as ERM and SLR distinguish themselves as specialists in this area, with scientific expertise, extensive history of project delivery and cross-industry capabilities.
  
  
• As firms prepare for the energy transition and aim to meet decarbonization targets, they are increasingly relying on service providers to navigate the technology landscape and develop strategies for investment and finance intervention. Consultancies are responding by building specialized expertise in these areas; for example, Schneider Electric’s and WSP’s knowledge on renewable energy procurement and energy services sets them apart in the market, while KPMG has a dedicated energy transition team.  

“As political landscapes shift, regulatory volatility increases and technological developments continue at pace, the climate change consulting market is evolving to meet the growing demands of buyers. Businesses are seeking solutions to adapt to transition risks, capitalize on opportunities, and support the development and implementation of new strategies,” commented Connor Taylor, Senior Analyst at Verdantix. “For vendors, success lies in being able to provide a mix of subject-matter specialization and industry expertise, and to engage effectively with senior executives and management, which are crucial factors for buyers when selecting a consulting partner.”