On 1 November 2024, during the successive meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the Roadmap for 2025-2026 on Strengthening International Cooperation of Turkmenistan to Implement the Goals and Objectives stipulated by the Global Methane Pledge was adopted. A Set of Measures was developed and approved for practical implementation of the Roadmap.
During the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-26), held in November 2021, Turkmenistan expressed interest in a detailed study of the Global Methane Pledge.
The Government of Turkmenistan has carried out comprehensive work, including in the international scope, in this direction. In particular, in June 2023, the Resolution of the President approved the Roadmap for 2023-2024 on the Development of International Cooperation Aimed at Studying the Issue of Turkmenistan’s Accession to the Global Methane Pledge, as well as the establishment of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Reduction of Methane Emissions.
Following the results of the work, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov officially announced the country’s accession to the Global Methane Pledge at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) held in Dubai (UAE) from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
The adoption of the aforementioned new Roadmap and the Set of Measures for its implementation is of particular importance in the context of practical implementation of the commitments arising from the Global Methane Pledge.
The Road Map reaffirms Turkmenistan’s firm determination to reduce methane emissions by 2030 through radical modernization of energy infrastructure and implementation of other relevant measures, thus contributing to the efforts of the world community in this area.
The document provides for close cooperation with international partners, in particular the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, other UN specialized agencies, European Union, OSCE, IRENA, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, USAID, United States of America, EU countries and others.
In addition, Turkmenistan attaches great importance to direct participation in the activities of the MARS digital platform created within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme.
In order to implement the Roadmap, a Set of Measures to Reduce Methane Emissions in 2025-2026 is also envisioned. These include holding scientific and practical conferences, round tables, seminars and similar activities in cooperation with various international organizations, continuing cooperation with foreign companies to address the tasks set in this field, preparing feasibility studies for projects to process and use associated gas through the introduction of innovative and energy-saving technologies, etc.
