How global cooperation could curb Turkmenistan’s ‘super emissions’

Turkmenistan’s significant methane emissions continue to haunt it as COP28 approaches. However, international cooperation might just be the push the nation needs for climate action.

In July 2022, NASA launched The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), an instrument that can observe our planet from space.

EMIT’s mission is to map the minerals in Earth’s dust-producing deserts, which will aid experts to understand how dust affects climate. Most crucially it can detect methane, which is crucial for scientists to identify and track emissions.

The mission uses a spectrometer to measure the spectral fingerprint of methane, which is a unique pattern of light absorption that can be used to identify the gas. The results revealed a number of methane ‘super emitters’ from different corners of the world.

‘Super emitters’ are specific sources, such as leaks or malfunctions in infrastructure, that release methane at much higher rates than typical emissions.

However, one nation in particular that has gained controversy in recent months is Turkmenistan. In 2022, it was responsible for the release of 184 ‘super emission’ events. Located in rural Darvaza, Turkmenistan hosts a gas crater known as the Door to Hell.

The crater has spewed methane for decades since it was first ignited, and climate experts have criticized the lack of measures taken to keep it under control.

Turkmenistan is also pumping out emissions via other means such as its aging and poorly maintained oil and gas pipelines, leading to cracks and holes. It is also rich in natural gas resources. When oil is extracted, it is often accompanied by methane gas and vented into the atmosphere rather than being captured.

COP28 hopes to target Turkmenistan into reducing its methane emissions.

To aid the country’s efforts, the United States recently decided to step in by offering financial assistance and technical expertise. The hope would be that the nation would be able to mitigate some if not all of its leaks before COP28.

The World Bank classifies Turkmenistan as an upper-middle-income country. This would mean that Turkmenistan has a relatively high per capita income, but it still has a number of challenges to address, such as poverty, inequality, and a lack of infrastructure.

Since the nation’s economy largely depends on its oil and gas industry, the government is working to diversify the nation’s source of income. Until then, it is reluctant to take any action that could damage the country’s oil and gas industry.

The nation’s economic development has taken priority over its goal to reduce emissions. The US’s efforts to broker a deal with Turkmenistan on climate action give hope that it will take meaningful steps to address climate change.

This raises the importance of international cooperation when it comes to aiding developing countries in reaching their climate goals. Developing nations often face unique challenges in addressing climate change due to limited resources, technological capabilities, and infrastructure.

Just like Turkmenistan, these countries may heavily rely on industries that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, such as agriculture, energy production, and transportation.

Cooperation and assistance from wealthier nations and international organizations are essential to help these countries transition to low-carbon economies and mitigate the impacts of climate change.