Greening EPA

Greenhouse Gases at EPA

Before there were federal requirements to do so, EPA had developed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and established reduction targets to decrease its GHG footprint.

There are three types of GHG emissions EPA tracks and works to reduce.

Scope 1 GHG emissions are direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the Agency.

  • Scope 1 includes on-site fossil fuel combustion and fleet fuel consumption.

Scope 2 GHG emissions are are indirect emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the Agency.

  • Scope 2 includes emissions that result from the generation of electricity, heat or steam purchased by the Agency from a utility provider.
  • EPA has far exceeded its target to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 25 percent by FY 2020 compared to the FY 2008 baseline.

Scope 3 GHG emissions are from sources not owned or directly controlled by EPA but related to Agency activities.

  • Scope 3 emissions include employee travel and commuting.
  • Scope 3 also includes emissions associated with contracted solid waste disposal and wastewater treatment.
  • Some Scope 3 emissions can also result from transportation and distribution (T&D) losses associated with purchased electricity.
  • EPA has far exceeded its target to reduce its Scope 3 GHG emissions 8 percent by FY 2020 compared to the FY 2008 baseline.

Under Executive Order (EO) 13693, EPA developed new emissions reduction goals to achieve by FY 2025, relative to its existing FY 2008 baseline. The goal is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions 46 percent by FY 2025 and reduce Scope 3 emissions 35 percent by 2025.