Turkmenistan begins plugging methane mega-leaks
UKPulse Health Desk
Turkmenistan, previously identified as a leading source of methane mega-leaks, has started to address these emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, contributing significantly to global heating.
- Turkmenistan has begun plugging methane mega-leaks.
- Methane traps over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
- Methane causes 25% of global heating today.
Turkmenistan, identified in 2023 as the country with the most methane mega-leaks, has reportedly begun to plug these emissions. Environment editor Damian Carrington previously reported on 1,000 such super-emitting leaks globally.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It is responsible for 25% of current global heating, leading some experts to describe stopping these leaks as the climate 'emergency brake'.
Why this matters: Stopping methane leaks is considered a quick way to slow climate change due to the gas's high heat-trapping potential.