Will AI replace sustainability consultants?

Why AI struggles to replace this job

• Persuading corporate boards to invest in long-term sustainability over short-term profit requires empathy.
• Navigating the internal politics and culture of a large organization is impossible for AI.
• Developing unique brand stories around sustainability initiatives requires creative communication.
• Assessing the qualitative risks of supply chain ethics involves nuanced moral judgment.

Tasks AI could automate

• Aggregating carbon footprint data from across various departments and suppliers.
• Benchmarking a company's sustainability performance against industry competitors.
• Drafting initial versions of annual ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports.
• Identifying specific energy-saving opportunities through building sensor data analysis.

The 10-year outlook

This is one of the fastest-growing roles as new climate disclosure regulations become law. While AI will take over the 'data crunching' aspects, the demand for strategic advisory will lead to significant wage growth.

Common questions