Greenhouse Gas Reporting in the Chemical Manufacturing Sector
While many chemical releases are required to be reported to TRI, the TRI Program does not cover all chemicals released by industrial activities. Notably, most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are not reported to TRI. Industrial emissions of GHGs increase the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, which alter the amount of heat trapped by the Earth’s atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
Climate change is already harming human health across the US, and impacts are expected to worsen with continued warming. Climate change harms individuals and communities by exposing them to a range of compounding health hazards, including the following:
- More severe and frequent extreme events
- Wider distribution of infectious and vector-borne pathogens
- Air quality worsened by smog, wildfire smoke, dust, and increased pollen
- Threats to food and water security
- Mental and spiritual health stressors
Climate change is projected to reduce US economic output and labor productivity across many sectors, with effects differing based on local climate and the industries unique to each region. Climate-driven damages to local economies especially disrupt heritage industries (e.g., fishing traditions, trades passed down over generations, and cultural heritage–based tourism) and communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources.
EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) tracks facility-level emissions from the largest U.S. sources of GHGs. The chart below shows GHG emissions reported to the GHGRP by facilities in the chemical manufacturing sector from 2013 to 2022.
Different GHGs can have different effects on the Earth’s warming; Global Warming Potential (GWP) values allow for comparisons of the global warming impacts of different gases. MTCO2e is a weighted measurement that considers the tonnes of the gases and their associated global warming potentials.
- Note that while most TRI chemical quantities are reported in pounds, the GHGRP collects GHG emissions data measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e), as shown in this chart.
- The chemical manufacturing sector reported emissions of 186 million MTCO2e for 2022, a 6% increase since 2013.
- 459 facilities in the sector reported to the GHGRP for 2022, most of which also reported to TRI.
Additional Resources on GHGs and Climate Change
- To explore the data reported to EPA on GHG emissions, see the Facility Level Information on GreenHouse gases Tool (FLIGHT).
- See the Fifth National Climate Assessment for information on climate change impacts, risks, and responses.
- For more details on the chemical manufacturing sector’s GHG emissions, visit GHGRP Chemicals.
- The TRI P2 Search Tool lets you compare facilities’ waste management reported to TRI and their GHG emissions reported to the GHGRP.
This page was published in March 2024 and uses the 2022 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2023.