Turkmenistan starts fixing big methane leaks after UN alerts

The country is repairing old oil and gas equipment after being named the worst for leaks of a harmful gas.

Published 31 August 2026 173 words
ENVIRONMENT A2
Turkmenistan starts fixing big methane leaks after UN alerts

Turkmenistan has started to fix big methane leaks from its old oil and gas pipes and equipment. This is good news, according to the United Nations (UN).

Methane is a gas that causes global heating. It is much more powerful than carbon dioxide. Stopping methane leaks is a fast way to help the planet. Experts call it the climate’s emergency brake.

A newspaper called The Guardian showed last year that Turkmenistan had the most methane leaks. After this, the government of Turkmenistan began to talk to other countries and groups to fix the problem.

A single large methane leak can be as bad for the planet as thousands of cars. Turkmenistan has now fixed eight of these leaks by repairing pipes and old wells. The UN said this is a great start, but more work is needed.

The UN’s methane alert system sent many warnings to Turkmenistan. The country answered about 20% of these warnings and is starting to fix the leaks.

Vocabulary

methane — A gas that causes global heating.
leaks — When gas or liquid escapes from a place it should be kept inside.
global heating — The warming of the Earth's climate.
emergency brake — Something that can stop a bad situation very quickly.
equipment — The tools and machines needed for a job.
warnings — Telling someone about a possible danger or problem.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is methane and why is it bad for the planet?
  2. How did the UN help Turkmenistan to fix methane leaks?
  3. What is one good thing Turkmenistan has done to stop methane leaks?

Based on an article from The Guardian.

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