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ESG and sustainability analyst
Also called: Sustainability reporting analyst, Carbon analyst
Measures a company's environmental, social and governance performance and helps it report and improve.
What the work is
ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. ESG analysts collect data on a company's energy use, emissions, water, waste, worker safety, diversity and governance, and turn it into reports for investors, regulators and customers. Some work inside companies; others work for investors and rating agencies who score companies on ESG.
SEBI requires India's top 1,000 listed companies to publish a Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), with independent checks for the largest ones. Global customers also ask Indian suppliers for carbon and ESG data. This has created strong demand for people who understand both the numbers and the rules.
A typical week
- Collect ESG data from plants and departments
- Calculate carbon emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3)
- Write BRSR, GRI or CDP reports
- Research and score companies for investors
It suits people who
- Care about the planet and fair business
- Like data, spreadsheets and careful checking
- Can explain findings clearly
Your path to get there
School (Class 8-10)
- Any stream worksCommerce or Science both lead here
Class 11-12
- B.Com, B.A. Economics, B.Sc Environmental Science or B.TechCUET-UG or JEE
College or fresher
- Learn GHG accounting, BRSR and GRI basics, and advanced Excel
- Take a recognised ESG or sustainability certificate
- Intern with a consulting firm or a company's sustainability team
Working or switching
- Auditors, analysts, finance and EHS professionals move in by adding an ESG certificate
- Start with a skills refresh of 6 to 12 weeks: one short course and one TalentMeter assessment to show where you stand today.
- Use returnship and second-career programmes; many large employers in India run them for people back after a break.
- Explain the gap in one honest line on your CV and LinkedIn, and list what you did in it (caregiving, freelancing, courses, volunteering).
- Contract, part-time and freelance roles are a common way back in; they turn into full-time offers often.
Exams and certifications
| Name | What it is for | When |
|---|---|---|
| GRI certified training ↗ | Global sustainability reporting standard | Any time |
| CFA Certificate in ESG Investing ↗ | ESG for investment roles | Any time |
Exam names, eligibility and dates change. Always check the official website for this year's notice.
Job market
Job titles to search
Who hires
Where the jobs are
These buttons open a live search for "ESG analyst" on each job site. TalentMeter does not list or vouch for the jobs there.
Outlook
High and rising demand because of SEBI's BRSR rules, carbon markets and global supply chain rules. Trained people are scarce.
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