Climate Risk Consultant Career Profile

What the role involves

Climate Risk Consultants work with clients to understand how climate change could affect assets, operations, investments, people and ecosystems.

The role may involve climate risk assessments, adaptation plans, disclosure support, policy analysis, stakeholder workshops, scenario analysis and integration of climate considerations into strategy, governance and project planning.

Typical employers

Roles in Australia may be found with:

• environmental and sustainability consultancies
• engineering and infrastructure advisory firms
• management consulting firms
• financial services and insurance advisory teams
• government departments and agencies
• property and infrastructure companies
• ESG and corporate reporting teams
• climate analytics and resilience organisations

Key tasks

• leading or supporting climate risk assessments
• facilitating client workshops and interviews
• analysing physical and transition climate risks
• preparing climate adaptation or resilience plans
• supporting climate disclosure and ESG reporting
• reviewing climate scenarios, standards and guidance
• preparing client reports, presentations and recommendations
• working with specialists in finance, engineering, planning and environment
• helping clients embed climate risk into governance and decision-making

Skills and qualities

This role suits people with a mix of practical, technical and communication skills. Useful qualities include:

• consulting and client management skills
• strong understanding of climate risk and adaptation concepts
• excellent report writing and presentation ability
• data, mapping or scenario analysis skills
• ability to translate technical information for decision-makers
• knowledge of disclosure, governance and risk frameworks
• stakeholder facilitation and workshop skills
• commercial awareness and project management ability

Qualifications and pathways

This is usually a graduate-to-specialist advisory pathway. Useful qualifications and experience may include:

• degree in climate science, environmental management, sustainability, finance, economics, engineering, planning or risk management
• postgraduate study or short courses in climate risk, ESG, sustainable finance, adaptation, data analysis or corporate reporting
• experience in consulting, infrastructure, finance, government, sustainability or risk management
• training in climate disclosure, scenario analysis, GIS or quantitative risk methods may be useful

Climate Risk Consultants may progress into Senior Consultant, Principal Consultant, Climate Adaptation Lead, ESG Manager, Resilience Strategy Manager or Director-level climate advisory roles.

Salary and job outlook

Salary depends on consulting level, client sector, technical depth, finance or infrastructure expertise and project leadership responsibilities. Current job ads and consultancy salary guides are the best sources.

Where jobs are usually found in Australia

Roles are concentrated in major cities and consulting hubs, but clients may include regional councils, infrastructure owners, energy projects, water utilities, agriculture, government agencies and asset-heavy organisations across Australia.

Tips for getting started

• build strong writing, presentation and client-facing skills
• learn climate disclosure, adaptation planning and risk assessment terminology
• gain experience with climate data, GIS, scenario analysis or sustainability reporting
• develop sector knowledge in infrastructure, property, finance, water, energy or government
• prepare project examples that show analysis, stakeholder engagement and recommendations
• follow Australian climate disclosure and adaptation policy changes

Related environmental careers

• Climate Risk Analyst
• Climate Change Adaptation Officer
• ESG Analyst
• Sustainability Consultant
• Sustainability Reporting Officer
• Environmental Planner
• Water Sensitive Urban Design Officer
• Bushfire Resilience Officer / Natural Hazards Officer