July 15, 2008 - Not necessarily, according to a new study from Verdantix, a business-research firm. Let the buyer beware of untested offerings and gaps in consulting firms' expertise in this still-emerging field.

The sheer variety of consulting services in the climate change field is both a blessing and a curse for buyers, according to David Metcalf, author of the report. "Buyers of climate change business consulting services face a really complex task to select the right provider for their needs," he says.

And the confusion looks likely to increase as more players seek to enter this burgeoning market. Despite a stormy economic forecast, consulting firms say demand for their advice on global carbon markets and renewable energy is up 200% from last year, the report notes.

The report compared environmental services from 16 major consulting firms including Deloitte, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, finding that: IT and strategy consultants have a particularly long way to go in overcoming skepticism among prospective buyers. Climate change is moving from an environmental issue into an economic issue. Buyers are looking for climate change advice and related financial analysis rolled into one package. Carbon management and compliance look to be key investment trends among firms for the next 12 months.

Increasingly, companies in the IT and telecom sectors are also looking for a piece of the action, with both IBM and BT launching climate-consulting services in recent months.

The report Green Quadrant: Climate Change Business Consulting is available for purchase here.