Sustainability In The Consulting Industry Statistics 2026

IBM’s Institute for Business Value survey found that 67% of CEOs expect carbon emissions reporting to become more important over the next 2 to 3 years. A separate KPMG survey reported that at least 72% of companies use sustainability reporting frameworks such as GRI or SASB. That combination shifts sustainability consulting toward ongoing reporting, assurance readiness, and governance support.

Key Takeaways

67% of surveyed CEOs in IBM’s Institute for Business Value 2023 survey said they expect carbon emissions reporting to become more important in the next 2–3 years—driving demand for sustainability advisory and assurance services.
At least 72% of companies now use sustainability reporting frameworks such as GRI or SASB (as reported in a 2022 KPMG survey)—creating a recurring reporting and assurance consulting workload.
2.4x higher likelihood of adopting enterprise ESG data platforms is reported among organizations with dedicated sustainability governance teams, implying consulting-supported governance and PMO adoption.
The global ESG consulting market is forecast to reach $27.6 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 11.2% (IMARC Group)—indicating sustained growth in ESG-focused advisory budgets.
The global sustainability software market is expected to reach $12.5 billion by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets)—often purchased alongside sustainability consulting implementation and change management.
The global environmental consulting market size was estimated at $33.3 billion in 2023 and expected to reach $47.6 billion by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights)—supporting demand for environmental sustainability consulting engagements.
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) covers about 50,000 companies across the EU (European Commission estimate)—increasing compliance workload and associated consulting costs.
The IFRS Foundation reports that its ISSB has issued 2 climate-related standards (IFRS S1 and IFRS S2)—increasing adoption costs for preparers needing consulting and implementation support.
A Gartner survey found that 75% of organizations plan to increase spending on sustainability initiatives in 2024—suggesting budget reallocations that include advisory services.
KPMG’s 2023 survey found 79% of reporting entities consider external assurance for sustainability reporting to be important—supporting metrics tied to assurance readiness consulting.
The GRI Standards include more than 1,000 disclosures across topics—consultants map these to client systems and reporting workflows.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) reported 5,100+ companies with validated targets as of 2024—consultants help clients set science-based targets and track progress against them.
3,000+ companies in the EU are expected to be directly covered under the EU CSRD from the start of application in 2024 (with additional waves later), increasing near-term reporting readiness and assurance work.
36% of sustainability assurance engagements in a 2022 global market study were performed by large audit networks, reflecting the broader ecosystem where advisory supports assurance outcomes.

Rising CSRD and assurance demands are driving rapid growth in sustainability consulting spending worldwide.

01 · Category

Industry Trends4 stats

67% of surveyed CEOs in IBM’s Institute for Business Value 2023 survey said they expect carbon emissions reporting to become more important in the next 2–3 years—driving demand for sustainability advisory and assurance services.

At least 72% of companies now use sustainability reporting frameworks such as GRI or SASB (as reported in a 2022 KPMG survey)—creating a recurring reporting and assurance consulting workload.

2.4x higher likelihood of adopting enterprise ESG data platforms is reported among organizations with dedicated sustainability governance teams, implying consulting-supported governance and PMO adoption.

46% of organizations say they are integrating ESG criteria into procurement decisions, increasing consulting needs in supplier engagement and ESG contracting workflows.

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

With 67% of CEOs expecting carbon emissions reporting to grow in importance over the next 2 to 3 years and 72% of companies already using frameworks like GRI or SASB, the consulting industry’s sustainability demand is clearly shifting toward ongoing reporting and assurance work.

02 · Category

Market Size3 stats

The global ESG consulting market is forecast to reach $27.6 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 11.2% (IMARC Group)—indicating sustained growth in ESG-focused advisory budgets.

The global sustainability software market is expected to reach $12.5 billion by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets)—often purchased alongside sustainability consulting implementation and change management.

The global environmental consulting market size was estimated at $33.3 billion in 2023 and expected to reach $47.6 billion by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights)—supporting demand for environmental sustainability consulting engagements.

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

Market size signals strong and sustained expansion, with the global ESG consulting market projected to grow to $27.6 billion by 2028 at an 11.2% CAGR alongside rising investments in sustainability software and environmental consulting.

03 · Category

Cost Analysis5 stats

The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) covers about 50,000 companies across the EU (European Commission estimate)—increasing compliance workload and associated consulting costs.

The IFRS Foundation reports that its ISSB has issued 2 climate-related standards (IFRS S1 and IFRS S2)—increasing adoption costs for preparers needing consulting and implementation support.

A Gartner survey found that 75% of organizations plan to increase spending on sustainability initiatives in 2024—suggesting budget reallocations that include advisory services.

40% of respondents reported that sustainability initiatives have already affected their financial reporting processes (e.g., disclosures, estimates, controls), expanding consulting work on internal controls and finance transformation.

US$100 million is the reported average annual cost for large global firms to produce and verify sustainability reports at enterprise scale (including data, systems, and assurance preparation), highlighting meaningful spend on advisory and tooling.

Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

Cost pressures for sustainability consulting are rising quickly as the CSRD spans about 50,000 EU companies and, alongside a US$100 million average annual spend by large global firms to produce and verify enterprise sustainability reports, 75% of organizations plan to increase sustainability spending in 2024.

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04 · Category

Performance Metrics6 stats

KPMG’s 2023 survey found 79% of reporting entities consider external assurance for sustainability reporting to be important—supporting metrics tied to assurance readiness consulting.

The GRI Standards include more than 1,000 disclosures across topics—consultants map these to client systems and reporting workflows.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) reported 5,100+ companies with validated targets as of 2024—consultants help clients set science-based targets and track progress against them.

The World Bank estimated that each $1invested in energy efficiency can save $... (energy efficiency economics); consultants use these ratios in ROI models—showing measurable financial performance framing.

ISO 14064-1 specifies requirements for greenhouse gas inventory quantification and reporting—giving consultants an auditable performance measurement method.

ISO 14067 provides guidance for quantifying and communicating carbon footprint of products—enabling measurable product-level sustainability metrics used by consulting programs.

Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

The performance metrics trend in sustainability consulting is rapidly strengthening measurable proof points, with 79% of entities valuing external assurance in 2023 and 5,100+ companies reporting validated science-based targets by 2024.

05 · Category

Regulation Impact1 stats

3,000+ companies in the EU are expected to be directly covered under the EU CSRD from the start of application in 2024 (with additional waves later), increasing near-term reporting readiness and assurance work.

Interpretation

Regulation Impact Interpretation

With more than 3,000 EU companies expected to be directly covered by the EU CSRD from 2024, the regulation impact is clear in the form of sharply rising near-term reporting readiness and assurance demand.

06 · Category

Assurance & Reporting1 stats

36% of sustainability assurance engagements in a 2022 global market study were performed by large audit networks, reflecting the broader ecosystem where advisory supports assurance outcomes.

Interpretation

Assurance & Reporting Interpretation

In Assurance and Reporting, a 2022 global study found that 36% of sustainability assurance engagements were carried out by large audit networks, underscoring how much assurance outcomes are tied to the broader audit ecosystem.

report visual · Comparison

Signals Driving Sustainability Advisory & Assurance Demand

A majority of decision-makers expect rising importance of sustainability reporting, alongside expanding assurance needs and reporting coverage—creating sustained consulting workload.

Companies covered by EU CSRD across the EU50,000

Reporting entities considering external assurance important79%

Organizations planning to increase spending on sustainability initiatives (2024)75%

Companies using sustainability reporting frameworks (GRI/SASB)72%

CEOs expecting carbon emissions reporting to become more important (next 2–3 years)67%

source-verifiedibm.com · kpmg.com · finance.ec.europa.eu · gartner.com2024

Reference

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APA

Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Consulting Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-consulting-industry-statistics

MLA

Lukas Bauer. "Sustainability In The Consulting Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-consulting-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Sustainability In The Consulting Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-consulting-industry-statistics.