The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially pushed back the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) deadline for reporting year 2025 from March 31 to October 30, 2026. This delay is part of a broader regulatory shift that could drastically reshape federal climate reporting commitments.
The extension lands amid the agency’s ongoing proposal to eliminate reporting requirements for 46 of the 47 source categories currently covered by the GHGRP. Only the petroleum and natural gas systems sector would remain subject to reporting, due to statutory requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act.
“Despite the current administration’s push to deregulate GHG reporting, expect states and cities in the United States to remain diligent in their GHG reporting requirements as the need to reduce our societal emissions reaches a crossroads.” - Desmond Zheng, MSSE, Consultant specializing in GHG reporting and Net Zero transition plans
The risks of pausing
A later deadline is not a green light to stand still.
EPA officials describe the reporting program as burdensome and non-essential, arguing that scaling it back could save US businesses over $300 million annually. Critics, however (including environmental groups and parts of the business community) warn that organizations who choose to pause their own GHG work during this window risk falling behind on commitments.
What you should do now
The delay offers short-term breathing room, but it also introduces uncertainty. Organizations may soon face a drastically simplified federal framework, or a patchwork of state level rules filling the gap if national reporting requirements are phased out.
Proper GHG accounting is good business practice, with or without a regulatory mandate. Here are four practical steps to stay ahead:
- Plan for multiple regulatory scenarios: US federal reporting may be rolled back, but US states, investors, and global partners will continue demanding emissions transparency.
- Maintain internal GHG accounting systems: Even if external reporting pauses, internal systems should stay active to support ESG reporting, scope 1 and 2 disclosures, supply-chain data exchanges, state and international regulations, and any future federal reinstatement.
- Monitor state legislation closely: Several states have signalled willingness to strengthen climate reporting if federal rules weaken. Expect more divergence between US state and federal expectations and make sure someone is tracking it.
- Prepare for rapid policy reversal: Legal challenges from states in the USA and environmental groups mean the rule could be reversed, revised, or stalled. Organizations that have kept their reporting infrastructure intact will be far better placed to respond quickly than those who wound it down.
Why this matters
Despite the postponement, the smartest move is to stay the course. GHG tracking now will ensure your organization remains prepared, compliant, and competitive; regardless of how reporting rules change in 2026. (Read more in From Data to Action: How to Calculate Your GHG Emissions).
Meet our experts:
Desmond Zheng, MSSE, Consultant specializing in GHG reporting and Net Zero transition plans: Desmond brings his experience in sustainable engineering and renewable energy to support organizations of all size in developing GHG inventories to achieve Net Zero.
