Widespread Revisions of Self-Reported Emissions by Major US Corporations

60% of emissions disclosures by 276 large U.S. corporations are later restated, with understatements outweighing overstatements two to one.

Lauren Cohen, Ethan Rouen, Kunal Sachdeva

Nature Climate Change 16 (2026): 33–36

60% of emissions disclosures by 276 large U.S. corporations are later restated, with understatements outweighing overstatements two to one.

Examining 900 emissions disclosures from 276 of the largest U.S. corporations, we find that 60% of these disclosures are eventually restated. Firms are more likely to understate than overstate their emissions, with the value of understated emissions being more than twice the value of overstated emissions.

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@article{cohen2026emissions,
  title={Widespread revisions of self-reported emissions by major {US} corporations},
  author={Cohen, Lauren and Rouen, Ethan and Sachdeva, Kunal},
  journal={Nature Climate Change},
  volume={16},
  number={1},
  pages={33--36},
  year={2026},
  doi={10.1038/s41558-025-02494-9}
}

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