U.S.-Kazakhstan Joint Statement on Accelerating Methane Mitigation to Achieve the Global Methane Pledge

Today, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on International Environmental Cooperation Zulfiya Suleimenova issued the following:

Building on more than 30 years of successful partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States;

Highlighting the 5th anniversary of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States and increasing opportunities for cooperation on methane abatement;

Recognizing the pivotal roles our countries play in creating a greener, safer, and better world;

Emphasizing the importance of rapidly reducing methane emissions before 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;

Recognizing the significant methane mitigation potential of the fossil energy sector and the need to rapidly reduce emissions in this sector;

Understanding the significance of voluntary actions in contributing to the collective effort to reduce global methane emissions;

Striving to mobilize global action and reinforce support for existing international initiatives in methane emission reduction through effective bilateral action;

Acknowledging the crucial involvement of the private sector, development banks, financial institutions, and international aid agencies in supporting the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge;

Kazakhstan joins the Global Methane Pledge.

The United States and Kazakhstan state their mutual readiness to accelerate the development and implementation of policies and projects to rapidly reduce methane emissions, particularly from the fossil energy sector.

The United States and Kazakhstan intend to advance the following efforts in the next two years to support Kazakhstan’s methane reduction priorities:

• Cooperation on best practices implementation for coal mine methane mitigation, including degasification of coal seams, destruction of ventilation air methane, and the capture and utilization of coal mine methane that would otherwise be emitted.
• Cooperation to implement regular and comprehensive leak detection and repair and eliminate routine venting of methane across the oil and gas sector, including by:
  • Supporting utilization of satellite and other technologies to monitor and mitigate methane emissions, with particular focus on preventing and rapidly responding to super-emitter events, including through active participation in the International Methane Emissions Observatory’s Methane Alert and Response System.
  • Supporting implementation of regular leak detection and repair in KazMunaiGaz and its subsidiaries and dependent organizations.
  • Supporting exchanges of best practices and encouraging development of projects to identify, repair, and prevent leaks and venting in the gas transmission, distribution, and storage system.
  • Advancing pilot projects for methane leakage and venting control at Kazakhstan’s oil and gas facilities, with the goal of implementing best practices for methane measurement and reduction nationwide.
  • Developing national standards, as appropriate, to eliminate non-emergency venting of methane and require leak detection and repair in the oil and gas sector as soon as possible before 2030.
• Support improvements in national methane inventories across sectors, including through support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
• Encourage private sector development of and investment in methane reduction projects, including by convening in the first half of 2024 an industry roundtable to showcase methane reduction technologies and identify opportunities for project development.
• Identify and support, as appropriate, sources of financing for methane reduction projects, including through the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the International Finance Corporation, World Bank, and others.

The United States intends to work with partners to mobilize investments to support achieving full methane mitigation potential in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector, which will require at least $1.4 billion in total spending through 2030 per International Energy Agency estimates, and catalyze investment in additional methane emissions reduction opportunities across sectors.

Through this joint statement, we reiterate our commitment to addressing the urgent challenge posed by methane emissions. By working together on these priorities, we aim to build a more sustainable future for our planet and future generations.