Turkmenistan, previously identified as the world's worst country for methane mega-leaks, has begun plugging the leaks in what experts describe as a potential breakthrough in the fight against climate change. The development follows a 2023 investigation that uncovered more than 1,000 super-emitting methane leaks across the globe, with Turkmenistan responsible for the largest share of these emissions.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and is responsible for roughly 25% of global heating today. Unlike carbon dioxide, which persists in the atmosphere for centuries, methane has a relatively short lifespan, meaning that cutting emissions now could produce rapid results in slowing the rate of warming.
Environment editor Damian Carrington, who reported on the scale of the problem in 2023, has been tracking the response from governments and energy companies. He told the Guardian's science podcast that the sheer volume of gas escaping from oil and gas infrastructure was 'mindboggling', with some individual leaks releasing more methane in a year than entire nations emit from all sources combined.
The decision by Turkmenistan to address its mega-leaks has been welcomed by researchers who study atmospheric emissions. Satellite data had previously shown the country's eastern region, particularly around the Caspian Sea coast, to be a persistent hotspot for methane plumes, often linked to poorly maintained pipelines, compressor stations, and storage facilities in the fossil fuel sector.
Experts argue that fixing methane leaks is one of the most cost-effective climate measures available. In many cases, the gas that is captured can be sold, meaning the repairs can pay for themselves. This has led some to describe methane abatement as the climate 'emergency brake' — a rapid intervention that can slow warming while longer-term efforts to decarbonise the global economy continue.
Despite the progress in Turkmenistan, Carrington noted that other countries are still failing to act on their own super-emitting sites. The investigation identified major leaks across several continents, including in the United States, Russia, and parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Many of these leaks remain unaddressed, raising questions about the effectiveness of international pledges to cut methane emissions by 2030.
The Global Methane Pledge, launched at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, has been signed by more than 150 countries, committing them to reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by the end of the decade. However, campaigners and researchers have repeatedly pointed to a gap between these commitments and the on-the-ground reality of continued leaks from fossil fuel operations.
Satellite monitoring has transformed the ability of scientists and journalists to identify methane leaks from space. Newer satellites can pinpoint individual facilities and even specific pieces of equipment, allowing operators to respond quickly to fix faulty valves, seals, and vents. The technology has also made it harder for companies and governments to hide the scale of their emissions from public scrutiny.
The situation in Turkmenistan is being watched closely as a test case. If the country can successfully reduce its mega-leaks, it could demonstrate that rapid progress is possible even in nations with ageing energy infrastructure. Conversely, a failure to sustain the repairs would reinforce concerns that the fossil fuel industry remains unwilling to tackle one of the most solvable parts of the climate crisis.