CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—Five states generating nearly one-third of U.S. economic output are implementing laws requiring detailed greenhouse gas emissions reporting, marking a significant advancement in corporate environmental transparency.
California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Colorado—collectively representing $6.6 trillion in GDP—have established timelines for implementation:
- California: Mandates take effect January 2026.
- New York: Regulations will be phased in from December 2026 through January 2028.
- Illinois: Reporting requirements phased in by 2028.
- New Jersey: Companies with over $1 billion in revenue to begin reporting emissions within four years.
- Colorado: Reporting to be phased in by 2029.
“This coordinated push represents a significant advancement in corporate environmental transparency and sustainability requirements,” report Brad Molotsky and Duane Morris, attorneys active in helping organizations execute sustainability programs. “They also ensure that large corporations as well as small- to medium-sized enterprises [such as those in the professional cleaning industry] will be accountable for their environmental impacts.”
Businesses are Now Required to Disclose Environmental Data
Steve Ashkin of The Ashkin Group, co-chair of ISSA’s Sustainability Committee and the leading voice for sustainability in the cleaning industry, adds: “Businesses are now required to disclose environmental data, a critical step for compliance. ISSA members must gather this data not only to comply but also use sustainability initiatives strategically to reduce costs and outperform competitors.”
According to Ashkin, the most important takeaway is that “while the federal government may be discontinuing reporting on climate risks, states are filling the gap. They are establishing their own mandatory reporting requirements, which will likely spread nationwide.”
