Turkmenistan has taken a significant step towards mitigating its methane emissions by signing the Global Methane Pledge, a voluntary agreement aimed at reducing methane levels worldwide. The decision was welcomed by NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) mission, which has been instrumental in identifying sources of methane leaks in the country.

NASA's EMIT mission utilizes the data provided by the EMIT imaging spectrometer, mounted on the International Space Station, along with other sensors to locate and pinpoint methane leaks. The mission's applications lead, K. Dana Chadwick, announced at the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting that Turkmenistan had signed the pledge, prompting enthusiastic applause.

The importance of addressing methane emissions has been underscored by international leaders at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, held in Dubai. Calls for urgent action to curb methane emissions and eliminate leaks by 2030 were made during the conference.

Methane, with its high global warming potential, has become a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The CEO of Carbon Mapper, Riley Duren, emphasized the urgency in tackling methane emissions due to its significant contribution to global warming. He explained that reducing methane can provide immediate climate benefits and complement efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Satellites have played a crucial role in identifying methane sources, enabling countries to take effective measures to combat emissions. Japan, China, and European agencies have launched satellites such as GOSAT, Gaofen-5, and Sentinel-5P, respectively, to monitor methane emissions around the world.

Canada's GHGSat, a pioneer in methane detection, has been monitoring industrial facilities for greenhouse gas emissions since 2016. Their satellite system offers valuable data that is shared with organizations like NASA, ESA, the United Nations, and the oil and gas industry.

In the United States, fees for methane emissions are being imposed as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act mandates that companies reporting greenhouse gas emissions must pay $900 per metric ton of methane released starting in 2024, with the fee increasing to $1,500 in 2026.

Turkmenistan's commitment to the Global Methane Pledge will contribute to the overall goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. This significant initiative, bolstered by NASA's EMIT mission and other satellite-based monitoring systems, marks a crucial step in mitigating climate change and its impacts.

The EMIT mission, which was initially designed to study minerals in airborne dust, has exceeded expectations by becoming an essential tool in mapping large methane and carbon dioxide sources. Due to its success, NASA is considering extending the mission beyond Earth's arid regions and expanding its greenhouse-gas monitoring capabilities.

Turkmenistan's decision to sign the Global Methane Pledge, with the assistance of NASA's EMIT mission, exemplifies the growing acknowledgment of the need to combat methane emissions. Together with international efforts, these initiatives aim to create a sustainable future by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding the environment for generations to come.

This article was based on information from SpaceNews magazine and the SpaceNews webinar: Not Invisible Anymore: How Satellites Monitor Atmospheric Methane.