The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has finalized its mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program, following a directive from Governor Kathy Hochul in 2025. The program is designed to support the goals set out in the state’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Starting in 2027, businesses that emit at least 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually will be required to report their emissions. This includes entities such as power plants, landfills, fuel suppliers, industrial facilities, certain agricultural suppliers, and waste-to-energy facilities. For larger emission sources, the regulations will require annual third-party verification by DEC-accredited entities.
The finalized rules introduce several changes based on public feedback received after draft regulations were released in March 2025. Notably, the deadline for submitting third-party verification reports has been extended for the first two years of the program. Additionally, closed facilities will now have to report emissions for one year instead of three. The updated regulation also brings some terms and definitions into alignment with federal reporting standards.
More information about the finalized GHG Reporting Program can be found at https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2025/12/dec-finalizes-program-to-track-climate-pollution-sources.
