Q800. What factors influence reported greenhouse gas trends?

A800. Observed trends in greenhouse gas totals presented in EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) data are due to changes in GHG emissions reported by individual facilities and suppliers. In general, annual variations in reported emissions are caused by a variety of factors, including: the opening of new plants; start-up of new processes; closing of existing plants and processes; temporary plant and process shutdowns due to equipment failure, construction projects, or decreased market demand; alterations or enhancements to manufacturing processes; and variations in annual production due to changes in market conditions. Facilities and suppliers are allowed to cease reporting if their reported carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) is below 15,000 metric tons per year for three consecutive years or below 25,000 metric tons per year for five consecutive years. Emission trends for some industry sectors are also impacted by rule changes made by the EPA to improve data quality, broaden coverage of the reported data, or simplify emission calculations.