With the forces shaping corporate sustainability in flux, the demands on practitioners, and those seeking to enter the field, have never been higher or more complex. These demands are altering the definition of sustainability expertise, with professionals increasingly expected to show familiarity not only with the principles of sustainable business, but also with a dizzying array of standards and frameworks — plus the ability to apply that knowledge in business operations contexts. Professional certifications remain an important way to keep up and to signal credibility, helping practitioners broaden and amplify their skills sets. Launched by Trish Kenlon in 2021 and refreshed each year since, Trellis’ list of sustainability certifications remains the most comprehensive resource of its kind. Released today, our 2026 list includes 99 certifications across 10 subcategories. Whatever your career goals, one or more of these programs will likely support them. The number of certifications on offer has multiplied dramatically in the past six years, including new ones from the Sustainability Reporting Institute and the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) this year. As this list focuses on professional certifications for practitioners, it excludes certifications for products (such as the Forest Stewardship Council) and companies (such as B Corps). It also doesn’t include non-credentialed training, graduate programs or university-based certificates. If you’d like to flag a missing certification, we invite you to email editor@trellis.net, or to share it with us and others on LinkedIn. Sustainability and climate professional certifications These certifications provide an opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a sustainability professional…
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