Description
Environmental Business Journal, Volume 37 Numbers 11/12: Q4 Environmental Consulting & Engineering 2024
Environmental Business Journal®’s annual analysis of the environmental consulting & engineering industry in 2024 presents detailed data on the market and C&E industry competitors with multiple charts and tables and an updated forecast. Executive perspective on the impact of the Trump II administration sheds light on industry consensus on sectors and services that may suffer or benefit. Either way most executives expect the impact on their business to be minimal and overcome by some change of focus.
Following almost 20 pages of C&E industry overview, and seasoned perspective from two leading environmental law firms, company Q&A profiles expand on natural resource and air quality markets and adjacent services.
Environmental consulting & engineering grew more than 10% in 2022 and 2023, and likely will in 2024 when the final tally is complete. These were the first years of consecutive double-digit growth rates since the late 1980s post RCRA and CERCLA era, a more impressive feat now that the U.S. environmental C&E industry will surpass $50 billion in 2025. Sustaining this growth has been infrastructure funding and domestic energy production which looks sure to continue; and voluntary ESG and PFAS and other environmental liability investments that may not be on such firm ground in the short term. Climate risk and energy transition investments may waver in 2025, but are the foundation of another decade or two of growth for professional services firms focused on energy, climate and the environment.
Table of Contents
The U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry grew 11% in 2023 and 2024 likely will surpass 10%, but strategic questions remain for executives; EBJ C&E data report and census, end of 2024 forecast survey and executive commentary validate an optimistic outlook, with concerns arising from political change
Vinson & Elkins outlook on Trump II and the environmental agenda in energy 20
Lowenstein Sandler sees increased attention on chemicals, PFAS, consumer products, ESG claims, Superfund reopeners and NRDs 24
CTEH consolidates expertise in disaster response as parent Montrose grows 27
ICF building out its climate resilience and cultural resources practices; ICF energy analytics team & use of AI optimize client investments & grid stability 29
Natural Resource Practice Profiles: McKinsey takes on nature targets
WSP nature advisory services leverages technology and biodiversity expertise 35
Integral expands expertise in ecology, NRDAs, health science and microplastics 37
Stantec leads efforts to elevate natural capital, ecological services, financial valuation & measurement of nature-positive outcomes 40
EA natural resources business unit focuses on outcomes & ecological restoration with an increased use of technology and R&D projects 42
Air Quality Practice Profiles: EPA data on air quality
ALL4 has healthy growth in air quality as monitoring & digital technology help meet demand as agency and client staffs diminish 45
Worley air quality practice advances in GHGs, more transparent AQ data and community-level monitoring networks 46
WSP sustainable infrastructure leader finds AQ, noise, climate & GHG emissions increasingly integrated into projects 50
HR leaders from Terracon & Arcadis share perspective on HR challenges 52
Exponent sees increasing demand for PFAS work in water resources 54
Exhibits
Annual Growth in Environmental Consulting & Engineering vs GDP
Annual Size of the U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry & International Revenue Generation, 2000-2024
Annual Growth in & Size in $Billions of the U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry, 1994-2024
Environmental Industry: Key Growth Factors EBJ’s Key Market Driver & Forecast Elements
The U.S. Environmental Industry 2010-2025 & 2023-2024 Growth
U.S. Environmental Industry: Segment Growth vs. U.S. GDP
Annual Growth in the Environmental Industry vs. the Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry, 2020-2024
U.S. Environmental Industry: Revenues by Media
The U.S. Environmental Industry: Segment Detail in 2022-2024
Percentage of U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Firms Reporting Annual Growth or Decline: 2009-2023
Annual Share of the Top Firms in U.S. C&E Industry: 2000-2023
US Five-Year Census Data on NAICS code 54162: Environmental Consulting Services for 2015 and 2020
Share of the Top Ten Firms in U.S. C&E Industry in 2005-2023
Distribution of U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Firms in 2023
Top 5 & 10 U.S. Environmental C&E Firms (Gross Environmental C&E Revenues in $mil)
Top 80 US Environmental C&E Firms in 2023 by Revenue ($mil)
Consolidation of U.S. C&E Industry 1990-2023
Total Revenues in 2023 vs. 2024 for 10 Public C&E Firms
Third-Quarter Revenues and Growth for 2023 vs. 2024
U.S. Environmental C&E Market by Major Client, 2000-2024 ($mil)
U.S. Environmental C&E Market by Media, 1995-2024 ($mil)
U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry by Major Client Sector: 2018-2024
U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry by Media: 2016-2024
U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry by Region: 2018-2024
Ranking by Growth Prospects in Environmental Markets by Client Sectors:2019-2024
EBJ 12/2024 Survey & Growth Forecast for 2025-2026
Companies Appearing in this Edition of EBJ
1A Ingenieros 51
AKF Group 51
ALL4 45
American Water Works Association 55
Arcadis 52
Argonne National Laboratory 41
Communica Public Affairs Inc 51
CTEH 27
EA Engineering Science and Technology Inc. PBC 42
EFCG 11
Exponent 54
Global Society of Ecological Restoration 41
ICF 29, 32
Integral Consulting Inc. 37
Lowenstein Sandler LLP 24
McKinsey & Co. 34
Montrose Environmental Group 27, 28
North American Electric Reliability Corp 18
Power Engineers 51
Proxion Pro 51
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers 52
Stantec 40
Terracon 52
University of Arkansas 43
University of Illinois 41
UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 42
Vinson & Elkins 20
Worley 46
Worley Comprimo 46
WSP 35, 50
For more information on the Environmental Industry, click here to visit the EBJ homepage.
