Turkmenistan Begins Plugging Massive Methane Leaks, UN Calls It a Breakthrough
Turkmenistan has started sealing large methane emissions from its aging oil and gas infrastructure, marking the first documented mitigation actions according to UN data.
Recent UN satellite analysis revealed Turkmenistan as a major source of methane super-emits, prompting the government to act on eight of the worst leaks by repairing corroded pipelines, defective wells and broken flares. The UN Methane Alert and Response System sent 192 alerts to the country in the last year, and Turkmenistan provided on-ground information for roughly one-fifth of them. While the United States and several other nations received numerous alerts without any reported fixes, Turkmenistan’s steps are being hailed as an "incredible first step" by UN programme managers.
The repairs are part of a broader effort to curb methane, a greenhouse gas that traps far more heat than carbon dioxide and contributes significantly to global warming. Nonetheless, officials acknowledge that many additional leaks still need attention and that response rates are improving gradually. The initiative follows Turkmenistan’s 2023 admission as the world’s worst methane emitter and its 2023 pledge to join the global methane reduction effort.
Why it matters
Reducing methane leaks can quickly lower a potent greenhouse gas, helping to slow global warming.
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