The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposal to terminate the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), a long-standing federal initiative requiring thousands of high-emitting industrial facilities to publicly report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This proposed rollback would mark one of the most significant reductions in climate-related data transparency in over a decade.

The GHGRP has served as a vital source of emissions data for regulators, researchers, and investors since its inception in 2010. Originally introduced under the Obama administration, the program required facilities emitting more than 25,000 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent annually to disclose their emissions. It covered sectors such as power generation, oil and gas, chemicals, and cement although agriculture was notably excluded.

Trump-Era Energy Policy Drives the Rollback

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the decision reflects the Trump administration’s broader strategy to ease regulatory burdens on energy producers and heavy industry. The proposal aligns with a day-one executive order signed by President Trump pledging to “unleash American energy” by rolling back environmental constraints that are perceived to hinder economic growth.

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According to the EPA’s estimates, scrapping the GHGRP would save regulated businesses approximately $303 million each year. Oil and gas companies, which account for the majority of reporting entities, are expected to benefit the most, with nearly 85 percent of the projected cost savings accruing to them.

From Transparency Tool to “Unnecessary Red Tape”

In the EPA’s official statement, the agency argued that the reporting program no longer serves a regulatory purpose. Unlike other emissions disclosures tied directly to enforcement or standards under the Clean Air Act, the GHGRP has been described as a “standalone data collection exercise” with no statutory obligation or direct link to policymaking.

Administrator Zeldin went a step further, calling the program “bureaucratic red tape” that places a financial burden on American manufacturers and contributes to inflationary pressures. He added that eliminating the program would not harm air quality or public health, characterizing it as a symbolic victory for economic freedom and industrial growth.

A Pattern of Dismantling Climate Reporting Mechanisms

The proposed rule is part of a broader pattern of deregulatory moves targeting climate and sustainability data. In recent months, the Trump administration has moved to abandon the defense of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) climate disclosure rules, halted funding for clean energy programs, and launched political investigations into climate data platforms such as CDP and SBTi.

The administration has also challenged foundational climate science, including efforts to repeal the EPA’s “Endangerment Finding” that underpins many greenhouse gas regulations. Combined, these steps reflect a coordinated retreat from institutional climate transparency and international reporting alignment.

Limited Exceptions and Delayed Alternatives

The EPA has clarified that the only portion of the GHGRP that would be retained under the proposed rule is data collection for the Waste Emissions Charge (WEC). However, even that provision is effectively on hold, with the White House indicating that data collection for the WEC would not begin until 2034. In practical terms, this means that emissions tracking across nearly all industrial sectors could vanish from public record within months of the rule’s finalization.

Environmental advocates and data users have warned that the loss of this dataset would weaken the U.S. government’s ability to monitor emissions trends, hold polluters accountable, or engage credibly in international climate negotiations. The program has been used by policymakers to model sector-specific emissions trajectories and by businesses to benchmark sustainability performance.

Political Fallout and Policy Implications

Critics have argued that the rollback undermines America’s credibility on climate governance at a time when global attention is focused on the implementation of Paris Agreement targets and cross-border carbon tracking. Without verified national-level data, they warn, the U.S. risks falling out of sync with European and Asian partners that are building comprehensive emissions registries and climate finance frameworks.

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The EPA’s move will likely face legal challenges from environmental groups and Democratic-led states that view the program as essential to science-based policy and responsible corporate stewardship. However, under the current administration, the agency appears committed to its deregulatory path, positioning the elimination of the GHGRP as a symbolic and financial win for traditional energy sectors.

Looking Ahead

If finalized, the end of the GHGRP would mark a turning point in how emissions are tracked and understood in the United States. The absence of reliable national data could hamper not only federal oversight but also state-level climate initiatives, investor risk assessments, and net-zero transition planning.

As the public comment period opens, the future of federal GHG reporting now hinges on whether the EPA’s cost-saving rationale will outweigh the broad institutional reliance on the data it has generated for over a decade.

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