English 
Spanish 
French 
ESG consultants face a new market reality. Companies no longer ask only what the regulation requires. They also ask what data they need, who owns it, how to verify it and how sustainability reporting can support business decisions.
This shift matters because ESG reporting now affects risk management, supply chain resilience, investor confidence, access to finance and stakeholder trust. Therefore, ESG consultants need a broader skill set. They must connect regulation, data, materiality, strategy and credible communication.
A March 2026 ESG Dive article reported that 90% of European companies now excluded from mandatory CSRD reporting after threshold changes still plan to maintain or expand sustainability reporting. The same report found that almost 90% of surveyed companies expect to increase investment in sustainability reporting and automation over the coming year. It also noted that fragmented data systems, poor technology integration and unclear ownership remain major barriers.
CSRD Is Changing, Not Disappearing
The European sustainability reporting landscape is changing fast. However, simplification does not mean that ESG reporting is disappearing. It means companies need sharper judgment and stronger internal systems.
On May 6, 2026, the European Commission launched public feedback on draft revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards and a voluntary reporting standard for smaller companies. The Commission stated that the draft revised ESRS reduce mandatory datapoints by over 60% and total datapoints by over 70%. It also said the revised ESRS aim to become shorter and clearer, add flexibility, simplify materiality assessment and reduce reporting costs per company by more than 30%.
This creates a practical challenge. Companies need to understand what has changed, what remains uncertain and what stakeholders still expect. Some companies may face fewer direct obligations. Yet they may still receive ESG data requests from investors, lenders, customers or larger supply chain partners.
A Practical Consultant Scenario
Consider a mid-sized manufacturer that receives ESG data requests from two major clients. It may not face the same reporting pressure as a large listed company. However, its customers ask for emissions data, supplier policies, labor practices and evidence of climate-related risk management.
At first, the company treats this as a questionnaire exercise. Then the team discovers that energy data sits with operations, supplier data sits with procurement, emissions estimates sit in spreadsheets and governance information sits with legal. No one owns the full process.
This is where ESG consultants add value. They help the company map data sources, assign owners, document assumptions and decide what information is material. They also help the company avoid vague claims and prepare evidence for future assurance.
For publication, CSE can strengthen this section further by replacing this scenario with a short anonymized client example from a real advisory or training project.
The Five Roles of ESG Consultants
Modern ESG consultants need to act in five practical roles.
The Translator: They translate CSRD, ESRS, ISSB, GRI, TCFD and GHG Protocol requirements into clear business actions. This helps teams understand what sustainability rules mean for daily decisions.
The Data Organizer: They help companies move from scattered spreadsheets to structured ESG data processes. This includes data owners, collection timelines, evidence files and review steps.
The Materiality Guide: They support double materiality assessments. PwC’s 2025 review of 250 CSRD sustainability statements explains that CSRD reporting starts with double materiality. Companies identify material impacts, risks and opportunities by considering both financial materiality and impact materiality.
The Strategy Advisor: They connect reporting with business value. For example, Scope 3 work can improve supplier engagement. ESG ratings analysis can reveal governance gaps. Circular economy work can reduce waste and support innovation.
The Credibility Builder: They help companies avoid greenwashing and vague sustainability claims. This matters because stakeholders now expect evidence, not slogans.
Where Companies Often Struggle
Many companies treat ESG reporting as a communications project. In reality, credible reporting starts with governance, data and decision-making.
Another common issue is assigning ESG only to the sustainability department. Scope 3 emissions require procurement, logistics, finance and suppliers to work together. Trellis reported that Scope 3 data quality and availability are slowly improving as companies prioritize primary data from suppliers over industry averages.
A third issue is assurance readiness. Trellis also reported that the move toward more standardized data and limited assurance has prompted many companies to restate sustainability numbers, which can reflect improved data quality.
What ESG Consultants Need to Master
ESG consultants need to understand the main frameworks clearly. GRI helps companies report broader impacts on the economy, environment and people. ESRS supports structured EU sustainability disclosure under CSRD. ISSB focuses more on financially material sustainability-related risks and opportunities. TCFD supports climate-related risk disclosure. The GHG Protocol supports emissions accounting, including Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3.
They also need advisory skills. Framework knowledge alone is not enough. Consultants must guide stakeholder engagement, materiality, ESG ratings, external assurance, responsible communication, supply chain sustainability, net zero and climate transition planning.
A practical way to view this shift is through three levels of consultant readiness:
Level 1: Compliance awareness
The consultant understands the main regulations and reporting frameworks.
Level 2: Reporting execution
The consultant can support materiality, data collection, reporting processes and evidence preparation.
Level 3: Strategic advisory
The consultant can connect ESG reporting with risk, value creation, stakeholder trust, finance and long-term competitiveness.
The market increasingly needs Level 3 advisory skills.
From Compliance to Business Value
The best ESG consultants do not treat reporting as the final goal. They use reporting to improve decisions.
A materiality assessment can reveal supplier risks. Scope 3 analysis can strengthen procurement strategy. ESG ratings work can highlight governance gaps. Responsible communication can protect reputation. As a result, ESG consultants help companies move from obligation to strategy.
This is why ESG consultants matter more now. The market needs professionals who can understand regulation, manage data, support credible reporting and turn sustainability into business value.
FAQs
What does an ESG consultant do?
An ESG consultant helps companies assess sustainability risks, build ESG strategies, improve reporting, engage stakeholders and prepare for regulations such as CSRD, ESRS and climate disclosure rules.
Do CSRD changes reduce the need for ESG consultants?
Not necessarily. Some companies may face fewer direct obligations. However, many still need ESG data for investors, lenders, customers and supply chains.
Why is ESG reporting still important?
ESG reporting supports transparency, risk management and stakeholder trust. It helps companies understand impacts, risks and opportunities, while preparing them for future regulatory and market expectations.
Educational Next Step
For consultants who want to strengthen these skills, structured training can help connect ESG regulation with practical advisory work.
The Consultants Edition | Certified Sustainability (ESG) Practitioner Program 2026 focuses on sustainability concepts, the business case for sustainability, global and local legislation, CSRD, CSDS, ESG strategy, stakeholder engagement, ESG ratings, GRI, SASB, TCFD, ISSB, ESRS, external assurance, greenwashing, circular economy, supply chain sustainability, carbon management, science-based targets and net zero. The program includes 28 total hours, with 10 live hours and 18 self-paced hours, and live sessions on September 17, 18 and 21, 2026.
