A second-year LSE student studying BSc International Relations – detailing her experience interning for Chronos Sustainability. By Jessica Riseborough

A second-year LSE student studying BSc International Relations – detailing her experience interning for Chronos Sustainability. By Jessica Riseborough

This summer, I had the pleasure of spending eight weeks as a research analyst intern at Chronos Sustainability. My journey with Chronos began when I first encountered the company at LSE, where they sponsored the ‘Chronos Sustainability Prize,’ an award recognizing student academic excellence and commitment to sustainable business, finance, and environmental policy. Chronos’ focus on Responsible Investment aligned perfectly with my interest in the intersection of finance and sustainability, leading me to inquire about internship opportunities.

Many of Chronos' projects require a deep understanding of sustainability-related regulations. One of my primary responsibilities was to map the regulatory landscape, determining the scope of companies covered by the regulations, when the regulations came into force, and their specific requirements. I conducted an analysis to identify common themes and reporting expectations across mandatory and voluntary reporting frameworks. I also identified areas where regulations can interrelate. For example, both the SFDR and the EU Taxonomy Regulation are relevant to sustainable investment. However, the SFDR emphasizes detailed explanations on sustainability risks at both the entity and product levels, whereas the EU Taxonomy mandates evidence showing that economic activities align with environmental objectives, such as climate mitigation.

I also had the opportunity to work on two client projects, benchmarking companies on their commitments to avoid deforestation and benchmarking fisheries companies on their management of decapod crustacean welfare. During the latter, it became clear that reporting has historically been lacking, although companies are beginning to respond to increased attention on this topic. Most reporting, however, remains limited to descriptions of policy and management processes rather than performance-based impact reporting, signalling that crustacean welfare remains an immature issue for food companies.

A highlight of my internship was leading the development of a guide to careers in sustainability consulting, following the launch of Chronos’ previous guide on careers in sustainable finance. This project involved extensive landscape research, drafting various sections of the report, and conducting interviews with industry professionals. Through this work, I gained a deeper understanding of the diversity of organizations offering sustainability advisory services, from the ‘Big Four’ to specialized boutique consultancies. I also came to appreciate the appeal of consultancy as an early career option, offering graduates opportunities to work on diverse projects, collaborate with different industries, and address various sustainability challenges.

Reflecting on my experience, one of the most important lessons I learned is that developing solutions begins with thorough analysis. It's essential to fully understand a topic and identify the key actors involved before offering any recommendations. This approach ensures that solutions are both relevant and tailored to the specific challenges at hand. I also gained an appreciation for diverse research skills—both qualitative and quantitative—and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Working alongside specialists in finance, environmental science, and policy showed me how different perspectives can converge to create holistic solutions to complex sustainability issues.

Another key takeaway from my time at Chronos was the insight I gained into regulatory reporting. While reporting requirements drive much of the work for companies and consultants, they should not be viewed merely as compliance burdens. What stood out to me at Chronos was their commitment to using these projects to deliver tangible benefits—not just for the company but for society and the environment as well. This shift in perspective, from compliance to impact, has been incredibly inspiring.

Overall, my internship at Chronos was an enriching experience. Working at a boutique consultancy provided unique insights and allowed me to be directly involved in key tasks, helping me learn quickly and contribute meaningfully. As I return to my studies at LSE, I carry with me the knowledge and skills I gained during this internship, which will undoubtedly influence my future academic and career pursuits.