FERC said it would reevaluate the federal government’s approach to certifying natural gas pipelines. Current policy dates to the late 1990s, and key regulators say that, as climate change concerns mount, a re-examination of how infrastructure proposals are approved is overdue.

Dept. of Energy

At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it would examine the 1999 policy statement that guides regulators’ evaluations of proposed natural gas facilities. Critics have long complained that FERC green lights projects without carefully assessing greenhouse gas emissions or other potential environmental concerns of nearby communities and residents.

Former FERC Chairman Kevin McIntyre, a Republican, launched a similar process three years ago, beginning with a...