‘Breakthrough’ as Turkmenistan starts fixing ‘mindboggling’ methane mega-leaks

Turkmenistan’s efforts to plug methane leaks at its ageing oil and gas facilities have been hailed as a breakthrough by the UN. This achievement is significant, given the country’s reputation for secrecy and authoritarianism. However, it’s essential to temper enthusiasm with reality: this is just the beginning.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for 25% of global heating today. It traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide, making it a major contributor to climate change. Stopping leaks can have a rapid impact, but there’s a long way to go before meaningful reductions in emissions are achieved.

The UN Methane Alert and Response System (Mars) has played a crucial role in detecting these mega-leaks. In the last year alone, Mars sent 192 alerts to Turkmenistan, of which the country responded to about 20%. This is starkly contrasted with other nations, such as the US, Iran, Russia, and China, which failed to respond to any alerts.

The plugging of leaks in Turkmenistan is a step forward, but acknowledging that this is just the tip of the iceberg is essential. As Meghan Demeter, programme manager at Mars, pointed out, there are still many sources of methane emissions in Turkmenistan that need to be addressed. The country has huge gas reserves and is a major supplier to China, which means leaks were previously ignored due to the enormous volumes available.

Other nations have responded more promptly to Mars alerts. Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina have 100% response rates, while Libya and Azerbaijan have high response rates. This raises questions about the priorities of governments around the world: why are some countries quick to respond to these alerts while others seem hesitant?

The previous US administration under President Joe Biden engaged with Mars and fixed one small leak in New Mexico. However, this engagement ended with the second presidency of Donald Trump, who infamously called climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” at the UN general assembly.

Dan Grossman, the Environmental Defense Fund’s director, has called for more action from governments and industry to reduce methane emissions. He notes that stemming methane emissions from oil and gas operations is the quickest and most cost-effective method available today to reduce climate pollution.

As we celebrate this small step forward, it’s essential to remember that there’s still much work to be done. The UN secretary general has called for all countries to respond to 80% of alerts, which is a reasonable target. Achieving this will require significant investment in technology and infrastructure, as well as a commitment from governments around the world to prioritize methane reduction.

The Mars system uses satellite data to detect leaks and analyze environmental trends. This breakthrough in Turkmenistan is welcome news, but it’s essential to remain vigilant and push for more ambitious targets. The recent development highlights the importance of sustained effort from governments, industry, and civil society to reduce emissions.

As the world continues to grapple with climate change consequences, methane reduction will play a crucial role in reducing emissions. However, this will require continued commitment and cooperation from governments, industry, and civil society. It’s time to move beyond incremental steps and work towards comprehensive solutions that address the root causes of climate change.

The road to reducing methane emissions will be long and difficult, but with sustained effort and commitment, progress towards a more sustainable future can be made. The recent breakthrough in Turkmenistan is a step forward, but it’s also clear that there are still many challenges ahead.