Climate Milestone Reached with Implementation of New Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

Emissions Data Will Inform Future Strategies to Reduce Pollution

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the finalization of regulations establishing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This rule will improve New York State's understanding of the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a result of the rule and reporting mechanism, New York State will know more about the largest polluters in the State, including those affecting disadvantaged communities and other sensitive populations, and will be able to more effectively monitor the State's progress toward pollution reduction goals. This effort also supports the production of the annual GHG Emissions Report and will protect against anticipated federal rollbacks to ensure New York's essential air pollution information remains accessible.

“DEC’s greenhouse gas emissions reporting program and subsequent data collection is critical to the State’s ongoing efforts to protect our environment and improve the health and quality of life of all New Yorkers,” Commissioner Lefton said. “The proposed Reporting Rule will enable DEC to collect the information necessary, despite proposed rollbacks on the federal level, and develop effective strategies that reduce harmful air pollution and direct investments where they are most needed. This effort will protect New York’s consumers, help to ensure cleaner air and better health, and promote economic competitiveness across the state.”  

As part of the 2025 State of the State Address, Governor Kathy Hochul directed DEC to advance a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. DEC released draft regulations for the proposed rule in March 2025 and received more than 3,000 public comments through July 1, 2025. DEC also offered informational webinars in May to better inform stakeholders’ public comments on the proposal and held hearings in June to collect feedback.  

DEC made some changes to the proposal based on comments received that will include additional flexibility for the regulated community. The final regulation extends the verification reporting deadline for the first two years, changed the requirement from three years to one year for reporting from facilities that closed or ceased operations, and clarifies some terms and definitions and better aligns with federal reporting. 

DEC’s Mandatory GHG Reporting Program is for data collection only. It does not impose requirements for facilities to reduce GHG pollution or to obtain emission allowances. A facility required to report emissions will annually provide certain GHG emission data and information to DEC starting in June 2027 to reflect the previous year’s emissions. Certain large emission sources will also be required to verify their emissions data report annually using DEC-accredited third-party verification services. 

The rule also helps minimize potential reporting requirement costs by utilizing data already required to be reported under existing State and federal requirements and other mandatory reporting programs. In light of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s reconsideration of key federal air quality and GHG regulations, including the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, DEC’s regulation will also serve as a backstop to ensure the ongoing availability of critical GHG information. 

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said, “The information compiled through the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program will provide an essential accounting of the largest sources of emissions to establish the baseline that must be addressed to achieve measurable reductions and cleaner air across the state. This rule represents a significant step forward and will inform policies and programs administered by NYSERDA to further support New York’s businesses and communities in understanding how they can increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.”

To help ensure a comprehensive collection of greenhouse gas emissions, the following sources will be required to annually report emissions data to DEC: 

• Owners and operators of facilities in New York that emit 10,000 metric tons (MT) or more of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per emissions year. These facilities include electricity generation, stationary combustion, landfills, waste-to-energy, natural gas compressor stations, and other infrastructure; 
• Fuel suppliers that provide a quantity of fuel to an end user in New York that generates any amount of GHG emissions per emissions year. This includes suppliers of natural gas, liquid fuels, and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas, and coal; 
• Waste haulers and transporters (exporters) for which the estimated emissions from solid wastes transported to landfills or combustion facilities outside of New York exceed 10,000 MT CO2e emissions in any year; 
• Electric power entities that emit any GHG emissions or import megawatt hours (Mwh) into New York; 
• Suppliers of agricultural lime and fertilizer that supply a quantity of agricultural lime and fertilizer necessary to generate any GHG emissions per emission year; or 
• Anaerobic digestion and liquid storage of waste at facilities, such as wastewater treatment plants and concentrated animal feeding operations, where wastes imported to the facility or generated at the facility in an amount that would generate 10,000 or more metric tons of CO2e per year. 

The GHG reporting regulation, including supplemental documents and additional information, can be found on DEC’s website. 

DEC today also announced the issuance of the 2025 Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report. The annual report describes statewide greenhouse gas emissions for 1990 – 2023, expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, from all greenhouse gas emissions sources in the state. The publication of this report prior to the end of the year marks another milestone for the State in implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

The annual emission totals will help track the State’s progress towards emissions limits as codified in DEC’s Part 496 regulation adopted in 2020. Overall, the 2025 report shows statewide GHG emissions reductions from 1990 levels through 2023. In 2023, statewide gross GHG emissions were approximately 354 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is nearly 14 percent below the 1990 statewide emission limit baseline adopted in 2020.

The proposed Part 253 Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program will provide valuable data that will help further refine emission estimates in the Statewide GHG Emissions Report and better track progress towards the State’s emission limits.

New York State's Climate Agenda 

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors. The State is also working to disburse the historic $1 billion Sustainable Future Program, which will deliver targeted funding to lower emissions, reduce household energy costs, and spur green job growth.