08-10-202678
When discussing climate change, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is usually the first substance that comes to mind. However, reducing CO₂ emissions alone is not sufficient to curb the pace of global warming. In recent years, international experts have been paying increasing attention to pollutants such as methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons, which, despite their relatively short atmospheric lifetimes, have a significant impact on the climate.
Some of these substances remain in the atmosphere for much shorter periods than CO₂, yet during this time they have a high heat-trapping potential. Therefore, rapidly reducing their emissions is considered one of the effective ways to slow global warming in the near term. According to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants contributes not only to climate protection but also to improving air quality and protecting human health.
Methane occupies a particularly important place among these pollutants. It is the main component of natural gas and remains in the atmosphere for approximately ten years. At the same time, during this period, its warming effect is significantly greater than that of CO₂.
According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), methane is associated with approximately one-third of currently observed global warming. Therefore, reducing methane emissions can help slow the pace of climate change relatively quickly.
According to the Global Methane Assessment report, approximately 60 percent of global methane emissions are attributable to human activities. The main sources are agriculture, fossil fuel extraction and use, and the waste sector.
In agriculture, methane is generated primarily through the digestive processes of livestock, the storage and management of manure, as well as rice cultivation. In the oil, gas, and coal industries, methane can enter the atmosphere through leaks during extraction, processing, and transportation. The decomposition of organic waste in oxygen-free environments at landfills is also an important source of methane.
One of the most important aspects of this problem is that methane leaks can now be detected not only through ground-based measurements but also through satellite monitoring.
The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), developed by the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) under the United Nations Environment Programme, combines satellite data, expert analysis, and artificial intelligence capabilities. The system identifies major methane emission sources and sends relevant notifications to government authorities and companies. MARS uses data from more than 30 satellite instruments.
On 23 June 2026, UNEP and Bloomberg Philanthropies announced new targets to strengthen international action against methane leaks. According to the target, by 2030, the share of responses by governments and companies to major methane emissions detected through MARS is expected to reach 80 percent.
At the same time, the role of artificial intelligence in this process is continuously increasing. On 15 July 2026, UNEP reported that artificial intelligence integrated into the MARS system is helping accelerate the identification of methane emission sources and the implementation of practical measures to address them. According to UNEP's assessment, the climate impact of methane reduction measures implemented with the support of MARS is equivalent to eliminating the emissions of 24 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles over the course of one year.
This demonstrates that digital technologies are gradually evolving from environmental monitoring tools into mechanisms for making rapid management decisions. Methane leaks that were previously difficult to detect and locate can now be identified from space, after which timely alerts can be sent to the responsible organizations.
According to Uzbekistan's First Biennial Transparency Report, prepared under the Paris Agreement, the country's total greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 209.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2022. Taking natural removals into account, this figure amounted to 201.15 million tonnes.
In the emissions structure, CO₂ accounted for 64.7 percent, methane for 28.7 percent, nitrous oxide for 6.1 percent, and hydrofluorocarbons for 0.5 percent.
Thus, almost one-third of the country's greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to methane. This highlights the need to improve the accounting of methane emissions, identify their main sources, strengthen monitoring, and introduce modern technological solutions, making this area an important component of climate policy.
In 2022, Uzbekistan joined the Global Methane Pledge. This initiative envisages reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030 compared with the 2020 level.
At present, the importance of this area is also reinforced by the country's new climate commitments. The NDC 3.0 document establishes a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 50 percent by 2035 compared with the 2010 level. As a long-term objective, the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2055 is envisaged.
Under these circumstances, reducing methane emissions can become one of the important areas contributing to the accelerated achievement of the country's overall climate commitments.
The importance of reducing methane emissions is not limited to slowing global warming. This measure also contributes to improving air quality, protecting public health, using energy resources more efficiently, and reducing losses in agriculture.
In this context, the issue is directly linked to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, it contributes to SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-being, SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 — Climate Action.
At the same time, everyday practices also matter. Reducing food waste, separately collecting and composting organic waste, sorting waste, and refraining from the open burning of leaves and plant residues all contribute to reducing environmental pressure. This is because the decomposition of organic waste in landfills is one of the significant sources of methane generation.
Climate policy is no longer limited to accounting for CO₂ emissions alone. Satellites make it possible to detect methane from space, artificial intelligence analyzes vast amounts of data, and digital platforms create opportunities for rapid response to identified emissions.
For Uzbekistan, this approach is also of considerable practical importance. The significant share of methane in the country's greenhouse gas emissions highlights the need to improve methane measurement methods, develop digital monitoring, and widely introduce technological solutions in the oil and gas industry, agriculture, and waste sector.
Most importantly, reducing methane emissions is not simply a matter of addressing one type of greenhouse gas. It is simultaneously a step towards climate protection, improved air quality, better public health, greater resource efficiency of the economy, and the creation of a sustainable future.
From this perspective, the new principle of climate policy can be expressed in one sentence: identify invisible emissions and turn the problems detected into prompt action.
Madinabonu Sharifova,
Chief Specialist, NGO “Center for Sustainable Development”