ERM, the world’s largest pure play sustainability advisory firm, has acquired Point Advisory, a leading Australian climate change and sustainability consultancy offering strategic and technical advice to businesses in the region. This acquisition will enhance ERM’s ability to support clients across Australia and the broader APAC market, as organizations increasingly seek to operationalize sustainability.

Point Advisory’s team will join ERM’s Climate Change and Corporate Sustainability practice, serving clients across the APAC region. The acquisition strengthens ERM’s capabilities in sustainability economics, energy, procurement, strategy and human rights. It also complements the services offered by ERM’s other recent acquisitions in the sustainability advisory and energy transition space including E4Tech, Element Energy, Stratos and OPEX.

The acquisition comes at a critical time for businesses in the region, following the Australian government’s recent commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. The transition from heavy fossil fuel reliance is expected to generate significant new demand for climate change and carbon advisory services as organizations accelerate action.

Tom Reichert, ERM Group CEO, said: “A strong new wave of ESG capital inflow is happening, driven by a combination of governments and corporates around the world committing to net zero targets. This includes Australia’s recent pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which has already led to a major shift in its business and investment landscape. This transition will rapidly accelerate demand for climate change, carbon consulting and sustainability services, similar to what we’ve seen in other markets over the past decade.

“The acquisition of Point Advisory will provide ERM with enhanced skills and capabilities to support our clients as they navigate this changing landscape and deliver their sustainability agendas at pace. Our combined team will result in one of the largest sustainability advisory practices in Australia and will ensure that ERM is well-positioned to support increased client demand across the APAC region.”

Neil Salisbury, co-founder and CEO of Point Advisory, said: “We are excited to be joining ERM. This is a critical decade for action on climate change, biodiversity loss and delivering on the other SDGs. Joining ERM will enable us to collaborate with a global network of sustainability leaders to help address some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet and people.

“Point Advisory expands ERM’s local offering further into climate change, energy, strategy, economics, procurement and human rights to support clients seeking to strategically respond to and operationalize sustainability risks and opportunities. Both organizations are purpose-driven, focused on shaping a sustainable future and driving impact through action. Together we will provide ‘boots-to-boardroom’ capabilities.”

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

About Point Advisory

Point Advisory is a leading climate change, sustainability and ESG advisory firm. It helps clients to apply sustainability in their thinking and decisions – providing innovative, elegant and effective solutions that embed sustainability principles into their strategies and operations. Many sustainability challenges require a multi-disciplinary approach which is why its team includes engineers, scientists, economists and entrepreneurs who combine deep technical knowledge with strategic acumen to work across the full spectrum of the sustainability agenda – from climate change, energy and environmental management through to sustainability strategy, reporting, governance and human rights. Learn more

About ERM

ERM is the business of sustainability.

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

ERM’s diverse team of 6,500+ world-class experts in over 150 offices in more than 40 countries supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability. Through ERM’s deep technical expertise clients are well positioned to address their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. ERM calls this capability its “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level. Learn more