As governments, companies, financial institutions, and carbon markets increasingly rely on greenhouse gas (GHG) data to inform decisions worth millions (or even billions) of dollars, the credibility of climate action depends on the people behind the numbers.
From national inventories and corporate disclosures to emissions reduction projects and climate finance, GHG professionals play a critical role in ensuring that emissions are measured, reported, verified, and managed accurately. Yet despite the growing importance of this work, the profession has long lacked a globally recognized certification for individual practitioners.
The Environmental Professional in Greenhouse Gas Management (EP®(GHG)) certification was created to help address that gap. Developed by the GHGMI in partnership with ECO Canada and aligned with international personnel certification standards, the program recognizes technical competence, ethical practice, and demonstrated professional experience across the field of GHG management.
A cornerstone of the program is the independent GHG Certification Committee, a globally representative body of experienced practitioners that provides technical guidance and oversight to help ensure the certification remains rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of the profession.
To help guide the Committee through the next phase of the program’s growth, we’re pleased to announce the appointment of Marian Van Pelt as Chair and Alexander Stathakis as Vice-Chair.
Guiding Professional Excellence
The GHG Certification Committee brings together experts from across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, representing a wide range of specialties including inventories, reporting, verification, auditing, project development, and climate strategy. The Committee’s role is to provide independent oversight and ensure the certification reflects current best practices across regions, sectors, and professional disciplines.
As demand for qualified climate professionals continues to grow, maintaining robust professional standards becomes increasingly important. Organizations need confidence that practitioners possess technical expertise, as well as a commitment to ethical conduct and continuous professional development.
Marian Van Pelt: A Career Dedicated to Climate Transparency
As Chair, Marian Van Pelt brings more than 25 years of experience in GHG management, climate transparency systems, and capacity building.
Currently serving as Senior Vice President for Climate, Energy, and Transportation at ICF, Van Pelt has spent much of her career helping governments and institutions strengthen GHG inventory systems, reporting processes, and technical capacity. Her work has supported national and international climate initiatives and contributed to the development of stronger transparency frameworks and reporting systems worldwide.
Her extensive experience spans technical implementation, program management, training, and institutional capacity development—perspectives that align closely with the EP®(GHG) program’s emphasis on demonstrated competence and real-world professional practice.
As Chair, she will help guide the Committee’s efforts to ensure that certification requirements remain technically robust while continuing to reflect the evolving needs of the global GHG profession.
Alexander Stathakis: Advancing Integrity in Measurement, Reporting, and Verification
Joining Van Pelt in Committee leadership is Alexander Stathakis, Managing Director of Conversio Pty Ltd, who will serve as Vice-Chair.
Stathakis has more than 15 years of experience in GHG measurement, reporting, verification (MRV), and sustainability assurance. Throughout his career, he has supported organizations across infrastructure, transportation, resources, and corporate sectors in developing credible, audit-ready emissions inventories and disclosures.
His expertise includes Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions accounting; verification and assurance; carbon-neutral and offset-backed claims; and reporting under frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, Climate Active, national reporting programs, and climate-related financial disclosure requirements.
This combination of technical accounting expertise, verification experience, and practical implementation knowledge will be particularly valuable as organizations face increasing expectations for high-quality climate disclosures and transparent reporting.
Building Trust in Climate Action
The launch of the EP®(GHG) certification reflects a broader maturation of the climate field. As climate commitments become more ambitious and reporting requirements more sophisticated, the profession requires clear standards that help distinguish demonstrated competence and ethical practice.
The EP®(GHG) and EPt(GHG) designations provide pathways for both experienced practitioners and emerging professionals to demonstrate their capabilities while contributing to a stronger global community of GHG professionals. The certification is built around industry-developed occupational standards and covers a broad range of specializations, from inventory accounting and reporting to verification, climate finance, mitigation, policy, and capacity building.
Under the leadership of Marian Van Pelt and Alexander Stathakis, the Certification Committee will continue its work to ensure the program remains globally relevant, technically rigorous, and reflective of the profession’s highest standards.
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