🕒 Last updated on September 13, 2025
Since 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency has required thousands of industrial facilities in the United States to report how much pollution they release into the air. This program is called the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
What the EPA program does
It includes more than 8,000 facilities, such as power plants, oil refineries, and factories that make chemicals, minerals, and electronics. These facilities release gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and are linked to climate change.
The reports collected under this program help the government understand how much pollution is being released and where it is coming from. The data also allows companies to show the public, their investors, and shareholders that they are working to cut emissions. Policymakers and researchers have long used this information to guide decisions about how to reduce climate pollution.
Now, the government is planning to end the program. Officials say that continuing it costs businesses too much money and does not directly improve public health. They believe shutting it down could save American businesses more than $2 billion in regulatory costs.
Reasons given for ending the program
Government leaders say that the program is not required under the Clean Air Act in the same way that other reporting rules are. They argue that the information gathered does not lead directly to new regulations and therefore does not justify the cost.
They explain that the move is part of a broader effort to cut red tape, lower costs for industry, and simplify the role of government agencies. Ending the greenhouse gas reporting system is described as a step toward making operations smoother for businesses.
At the same time, not every facility will stop reporting. Certain fossil fuel operations, such as some natural gas and offshore oil facilities, will still need to share their emissions data. This is because of requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act, a law passed in recent years. However, the government has proposed delaying that requirement until 2034.
Officials emphasize that they will seek public input before finalizing the decision. A public comment period is expected, allowing people, businesses, and organizations to share their thoughts.
Concerns raised by experts and health groups
Many environmental and health groups strongly oppose ending the reporting program. They warn that shutting it down would make it harder for the public to know how much pollution is being released into the atmosphere.
Environmental advocates say the program gives Americans the facts about climate pollution. Without it, they argue, communities, businesses, and decision-makers cannot take proper action to cut emissions. They see the data as essential for planning ways to protect public health and reduce the risks of climate change.
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Health experts are also worried. They say that tracking and reporting pollution is a crucial step in reducing the harm caused by extreme weather, dangerous air quality, and other climate-driven problems. Without clear information, they warn, families may face greater risks to their health and safety.
Some observers point out that ending the program is similar to earlier efforts to cut funding for climate research. They argue that this decision would make it harder to study the economic and social impacts of greenhouse gas pollution in the future.
Despite these concerns, the plan is moving forward, and the government will collect feedback before making the final call. For now, the debate highlights a sharp divide between reducing costs for businesses and ensuring the public has access to detailed information about pollution.