WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ - Businesses face a significant challenge in training and hiring experienced professionals to measure and manage carbon emissions in the coming years, Suzanne Kiraly, president of CSA Standards, said today during an executive forum of business, industry, environmental and government leaders held at the Canadian Embassy in Washington.

"With the Environmental Protection Agency requiring more than 10,000 facilities to begin reporting carbon emissions in 2010, businesses of all sizes will need certified greenhouse gas professionals," Kiraly said. "While these carbon performance experts are some of the most in demand green jobs today, the field will grow exponentially if and when Congress passes carbon emissions legislation to address threats from climate change."

Businesses who wish to manage their GHG emissions today face significant obstacles and opportunities. The Carbon Disclosure Project, an independent organization that tracks climate change data from 2,500 major corporations, reports that only 52 percent of S&P 500 companies have reportedly set carbon emission-reduction targets. The global carbon market is predicted to rise from $550 billion by 2012 to $3 trillion by 2020, according to New Carbon Finance, a publication from Environmental Finance magazine.

CSA Standards, one of the world's largest standards organizations, offers a range of climate change services to help companies and organizations measure and manage their carbon footprint, including preparing carbon inventories and management plans to help reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. In addition, CSA Standards is a leader in certifying professionals to verify and quantify GHG emissions. Ensuring a consistent means of measuring and reporting emissions is the foundation for improving performance and a cap-and-trade system. With locations across North America, including a primary office in Cleveland, Ohio, CSA Standards provides tools and solutions for organizations to improve carbon performance and help meet the new EPA reporting requirements.

Other speakers at the forum included: Roger Ballentine, president, Green Strategies, and former chairman of the White House Climate Change Task Force; Robert Page, chair of National Roundtable on the Environment & the Economy; and Denise Sheehan, vice president, Government & Regional Affairs, The Climate Registry.

About CSA Standards

CSA Standards is a leading standards-based solutions organization serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in North America and the global marketplace. Focusing on standards and codes development, application products, training, advisory and personnel certification services, the organization aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. CSA Standards is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information visit www.csa.ca

SOURCE CSA Standards

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