For nearly 30 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an annual report tracking the country’s greenhouse gas emissions—until this year.
In a report from CBS News, the agency failed to publish its 2025 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report, prompting the Environmental Defense Fund to file a Freedom of Information Act  request to obtain it. 

The report, which the U.S. is required to submit to the United Nations, shows a 17% drop in emissions since 2005. While that reflects progress, the country remains off track to meet its 2030 and 2035 climate goals. 

But this year, the agency went silent. Though the EPA submitted the report to the U.N. in April, it never posted it publicly or informed the public—something advocates say undermines transparency and public trust. 

“This data belongs to the public,” said EDF Senior Attorney Rosalie Winn. “Communities, policymakers, and scientists all rely on the national inventory to track our progress and hold decision-makers accountable. The lack of transparency from the EPA is deeply concerning.”

Posted: May 20, 2025
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Freedom of Information Project, FOIA, Government Transparency, open records laws, public records