With the federal government debating the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a national scale, policymakers must also address the need to collect the emissions data necessary to ensure the success of US climate change policies. The first step in reducing emissions is to measure them. Without accurate and complete data on the sources of emissions and the amount they emit, the success of US climate policies may be compromised.
In December 2007, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. The law includes a provision directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from appropriate sources in all sectors of the U.S. economy. This policy brief explains the critical need for such a mandatory greenhouse gas emissions registry and reporting program and outlines key design elements to include in such a registry.
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