The recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to propose ending the requirement for industries to report their greenhouse gas emissions is a profound betrayal of the agency’s foundational mission. Established in 1970 with bipartisan support, the EPA’s core purpose always has been to protect human health and the environment. The EPA’s recent actions abandon that commitment, prioritizing the economic interests of a few interest groups over the health and well-being of current and future generations of Americans. It will hide factual data we need to combat the most significant public health crisis of our time: climate change.
Since 2010, the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program has been a critical tool, providing a transparent, public database of climate-polluting emissions from thousands of large industrial facilities. This program didn’t just collect data: It created a powerful system of accountability. By making this information public, the EPA allowed communities, scientists and policymakers to understand who was polluting, where they were polluting and at what scale. This data has been indispensable for tracking progress toward climate goals and developing targeted, effective solutions.
Now, with the stroke of a pen, this transparency may be gone. To read the full story.