What does climate leadership look like for professional services firms in an Earth-aligned economy?
To explore that question, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative (ERI) convened climate experts and senior leaders from consulting, audit and other professional services firms during Climate Week NYC 2026.
Using the Three Horizons framework, participants explored how the role of the sector could evolve over the coming years. While firms have supported the climate transition through their advisory services, participants reflected on how today’s way of engaging with sustainability would need to change to advance the required business transformation.
The discussion pointed to a future where climate considerations become fully embedded into core business decisions, from strategy and finance to innovation, technology and capital allocation. As AI and automation increasingly take over activities such as data collection, reporting and compliance, the role of professional services may increasingly centre on helping organisations turn climate insights into action, supporting strategy, transformation and implementation alongside ongoing advisory and technical expertise.
Participants also explored how climate leadership could evolve beyond managing emissions and mitigating risks to actively shaping business growth and market transformation. Firms may increasingly be judged by the outcomes they help enable: supporting the growth of low-carbon products and services, helping clients navigate business model transformation, and accelerating the scale-up of climate solutions.
A recurring theme was influence. These firms sit at the heart of decision-making across the economy, advising boards, executives, investors and policymakers. With that access comes an opportunity to shape not only individual organisations, but wider markets and systems.
The discussion suggested a progression from focusing on a firm’s own footprint, to client impact, and ultimately to system influence. In this view, climate leadership is not only about reducing harm, but about helping direct capital, innovation and business growth towards a net-zero future.
One of the most interesting themes from the discussion was the idea of influence. Professional services firms are often in the room when some of the most important business decisions are being made. The opportunity is not just to help organisations understand climate risks and opportunities, but to help shape the choices that will determine how quickly we transition to an Earth-aligned economy.
While not a consensus statement, the conversation surfaced a set of important questions for the sector. As climate considerations become increasingly intertwined with competitiveness and long-term value creation, the discussion highlighted a central challenge: how can professional services firms use their expertise, relationships and influence to help accelerate the transition to an Earth-aligned economy?
The discussion builds on ERI’s work to help professional services firms understand and increase their climate impact through the Exponential Services Matrix. Learn more here.
