Canwest News Service
Wed Oct 28 2009
Original Article by: Derek Sankey

CALGARY - A new national certification for people who help control, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions in Canada starting this month will help "professionalize" these workers as they experience increased demand for their skills, according to the group implementing the new certification.


Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada, part of the federal government's sector council program, is overseeing the introduction of the Greenhouse Gas Professional designation, known as a GHG professional.


Grant Trump, president of ECO, says the plan is to get people certified now under its Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board with the goal of co-ordinating with other countries in the future.


"What we need to recognize is that this is going to be an international activity, therefore the individuals that are going to be deemed qualified to do this are going to have to meet international standards," says Trump.


"If I go to hire somebody . . . I need to know that the individual is experienced, competent and qualified to do the work," says Dave Schwass, a senior adviser on the environment for NOVA Chemicals Corp.


Until now, companies had to rely on "self-declared expertise" in this area, he says.


"What we're starting to see now is the professionalization of the environmental business," says Schwass, who co-manages the climate change file for NOVA.


The new occupational standards for GHG professionals in Canada are aligned with standards under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).


They are based on an extensive study of competencies needed for these professionals that include requirements for experience and education, as well having to pass an examination and a competency assessment.

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