Methane is one of the key greenhouse gases driving global warming. Unlike carbon dioxide, it remains in the atmosphere for a relatively short period, but has a much stronger warming effect. This means that reducing methane emissions can help slow the rate of warming relatively quickly.
Valeriya Rakhmatova, a key expert on the collection and analysis of hotspot data under the Enhancing Uzbekistan’s Methane Inventories (UzEMI), explains why monitoring methane emissions is essential.
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Interview Summary
Methane emissions monitoring is important not only for addressing climate change, but also for the economy and safety.
Methane is one of the most significant greenhouse gases. Over a 100-year period, its warming impact is about 30 times greater than that of carbon dioxide, while over a 20-year period, it is more than 80 times greater. At the same time, methane remains in the atmosphere for a much shorter period—around 10–12 years—so reducing methane emissions can deliver relatively rapid climate benefits.
However, effective emissions reductions are not possible without understanding where emissions come from and which sources contribute the most.
For Uzbekistan and other countries in Central Asia, the oil and gas sector is particularly important in this regard. Methane emissions can occur, among other things, through leaks during gas transportation and processing. Such leaks not only affect the environment but also result in direct economic losses, as gas that could otherwise remain in the system and generate revenue is lost.
Monitoring is therefore essential for identifying the main sources of methane emissions and determining priority areas for emissions reductions.
Zhanna Khusainova, PR Expert/Consultant, Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)