Turkmenistan targets methane mega-leaks as global pledge lags

September 10, 2026 at 09:00 PM2 min

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Turkmenistan, one of the world's largest methane emitters, is moving to plug its super-emitter leaks that release tonnes of methane hourly. The effort follows the 2021 Global Methane Pledge, signed by 159 countries aiming to cut emissions 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. The IEA estimates global energy-related methane emissions are about 80% higher than countries report to the UN.

Key Facts

The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in 2021, has been signed by 159 countries responsible for about 45% of global human-caused methane emissions.
The pledge targets a reduction of methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.
The IEA estimates global energy-related methane emissions are about 80% higher than those reported by countries to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In 2024, abandoned wells and mines accounted for roughly 8 million tonnes of methane emissions, according to the IEA.
A 2023 Guardian assessment identified Turkmenistan as the worst country for methane mega-leaks, with some super-emitters releasing more methane per hour than an entire coal-fired power station.

Global Methane Pledge

The United States and the European Union led the Global Methane Pledge at the COP26 climate summit in 2021. The pledge has been signed by 159 countries that together contribute around 45% of global human-caused methane emissions. It aims to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. Methane heats the planet up to 80 times more than carbon dioxide over two decades and has contributed around 30% of the increase in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution.

Emission Tracking Gaps

The IEA's annual Global Methane Tracker shows that record production of oil, gas, and coal, combined with limited mitigation efforts, has kept emissions above 120 million tonnes annually. In 2024, abandoned wells and mines accounted for roughly 8 million tonnes of methane emissions. Methane emissions are widely underreported, and some regions have little or no measurement-based data, forcing the IEA to rely on scientific studies, measurement campaigns, and satellite-detected events. The IEA estimated that global energy-related methane emissions are about 80% higher than those reported by countries to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Turkmenistan's Super-Emitters

Turkmenistan, along with the United States, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, contributes heavily to global methane emissions due to decades of ineffective decommissioning of fossil fuel operations. A 2023 Guardian assessment revealed that Turkmenistan was the worst country for methane mega-leaks. Some of Turkmenistan's super-emitters leaked tonnes of methane every hour from a single valve or pipeline, exceeding the emissions from an entire coal-fired power station. Turkmenistan is now aiming to plug its mega leaks, which would help reduce global methane emissions and could encourage other countries to do the same.