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New York, September 24, 2025 – The Government of Kazakhstan and the Global Methane Hub (GMH) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in reducing methane emissions through national planning, monitoring, and regulations. The agreement underscores Kazakhstan’s commitment to and leadership in identifying and mitigating methane emissions across all sectors, beginning with large-scale methane leaks in its oil and gas operations.
“Reducing methane emissions is a top climate priority for Kazakhstan. We appreciate the vital role of the Global Methane Hub to provide our government with technical assistance and support. Kazakhstan is taking concrete steps to make meaningful progress on the energy transition. Through this MOU we are strengthening our relationship with international partners to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce methane across all sectors, harness the power of advanced monitoring technologies, such as satellites, and develop regulations to reduce methane emissions in the fossil fuel sector,” said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Nyssanbayev.
Through the MoU, Kazakhstan and the Global Methane Hub will work together to develop and implement the country’s first National Methane Action Plan, establish a National Methane Office, and leverage satellite technology to detect and monitor major methane leaks in the energy and waste sectors. Working with Carbon Mapper and Clean Air Task Force, the Global Methane Hub will support Kazakhstan to use satellite methane data to respond quickly to major methane events and develop and implement regulations.
“This partnership with Kazakhstan highlights the growing momentum we are seeing around the world to tackle methane head-on. By committing to identify and fix the largest leaks in its energy sector, Kazakhstan is showing how nations can lead with practical solutions that deliver fast climate benefits while strengthening energy security. This agreement is proof that ambitious action on methane is not a distant goal — it is happening now, and it is happening globally,” said Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub.
The agreement also calls for pilot projects to turn data into real emission reductions, training programs to build institutional capacity, and the convening of a regional methane forum to accelerate cooperation across Central Asia. It underscores the shared responsibility and the potential of collective standards to yield strong climate, health, and economic benefits.
“Since joining the Global Methane Pledge in 2023, Kazakhstan has taken important steps to build monitoring and regulatory capacity to reduce methane, building on their success in reducing flaring over the last decade. CATF looks forward to strengthening our partnership with the government to fully realize its methane reduction goals,” said Jonathan Banks, Global Director for Methane at Clean Air Task Force.
The signing took place during the UN Secretary General’s Methane Solutions Dialogue on Fossil Fuels, where governments, industry, and nonprofit leaders gathered to advance global efforts to reduce methane emissions. The Global Methane Hub welcomed the Dialogue as a vital platform to build on the kind of concrete partnerships exemplified by today’s MoU, showing how rapid, cooperative action on methane can complement broader energy transition goals.
“By leveraging satellite methane data to reduce energy and waste sector emissions, Kazakhstan is taking critical steps to rapidly address the largest methane emission events. Carbon Mapper is looking forward to partnering with Global Methane Hub, the government, and other partners to empower targeted mitigation, build institutional capacity, and accelerate meaningful reductions across the region,” said Riley Duren, CEO of Carbon Mapper.