THE GLOBAL METHANE PLEDGE
Turkmenistan implements a foreign policy based on the principles of positive neutrality, peacefulness, «open door», good neighborliness and equal, mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested foreign partners. Developing fruitful relations on the interstate level, our country demonstrates invariable commitment to constructive dialogue in multilateral format.
Environmental protection is the most important priority of the state policy of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan always pays special attention to environmental issues and in particular, cutting methane emissions.
The Global Methane Pledge is an initiative aimed at reducing emissions of methane, a major greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change. Countries that account for 45% of global methane emissions have pledged to cut their emissions by 30% by 2030. Achieving the Global Methane Pledge target could potentially have a huge impact on climate change, just as the entire global transport sector adopts zero-emission technologies. Today, more than 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge.
Methane emissions are one of the main factors contributing to climate change. Reducing methane emissions also offers unique opportunities. As the Global Methane Pledge notes «readily available, cost-effective measures to reduce methane emissions have the potential to avoid more than 0.2 degrees Celsius of warming by 2050». Solutions to reduce methane emissions must be implemented in conjunction with reductions in emissions of other greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, to effectively meet global climate change goals.
As is known, methane is the third most important greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere. It is the second largest source of global warming after carbon dioxide. An increase in the concentration of methane in the atmosphere leads to a rise in temperature and an increase in the greenhouse effect. Turkmenistan has decided to join the global commitment to reduce methane emissions, as announced by the honourable President at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. The honourable President also stated that at the same time, Turkmenistan will continue to cooperate with international organizations and partner states within the framework of existing projects and programs aimed at the practical implementation of the conditions arising from the Global Methane Pledge.
With accession to the Paris Agreement, a number of relevant national programs were adopted in our country. National measures are being implemented to reduce and eradicate the negative consequences of methane emissions into the atmosphere. First of all, it is about a phased transition to the introduction and use of modern environmentally friendly and resource-saving technologies, especially in the fields of energy, industry and transport.
In 2022, with the active support of UNDP, Turkmenistan prepared the NDC Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement, which was approved on May 12, 2022 by the President of Turkmenistan. The ambition of the plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2030.
At the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, our country supported the initiative of the Global Methane Commitment. Since then, relevant targeted work has been carried out. As is known, on 2 June 2023, a high-level Intersectoral Commission on Reduction of Methane Emissions was established by the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan.
Thus, by successfully implementing a constructive foreign policy strategy, our country makes a significant contribution to ensuring global peace and progress and achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Tofe HOSHANOVA,
lecturer of the Department of International Law and Comparative Jurisprudence of the
Institute of International Relations of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.