Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases (GHGs). These include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Solar radiation in the lower atmosphere acts like a “greenhouse” and prevents heat from escaping. Emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is the main cause of climate change.

Virginia is committed to addressing the pollutants that contribute to climate change. The Virginia Clean Economy Act establishes renewable portfolio and energy efficiency standards, and advances offshore wind and solar generation, and the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act addresses resiliency issues.

What's New 

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been awarded a $3 million dollar Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant by the U.S. EPA funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This grant will be used to develop a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) that is due on March 1, 2024, and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) that is due two years from the date of the award, along with a status report that is due at the close of the grant period. More information on the planning process will be announced soon. 
 

GHG Inventories

DEQ has conducted economy-wide GHG inventories for 2005, 2010 and 2018. The following reports and accompanying Excel files provide more information on these inventories. As required by § 45.2-1710 B. 9. of the Code of Virginia, GHG inventories for 2016 to 2019 are also included.

Baseline Inventory Report - 2005 and 2010

Baseline Inventory Tables and Figures Data

2018 Inventory Report

2018 Inventory Tables and Figures Data

2016-2020 Inventory Factsheet

2016-2020 Inventory

Individual Source Data 

Many of the larger GHG emitting sources in Virginia report to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) on an annual basis.  Click on this link to find GHG emissions and trends data for specific Virginia sources.