Kazakhstan and U.S. Issue Joint Statement on Methane Reduction
The Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for International Environmental Cooperation, Zulfiya Suleimenova, and Special U.S. Presidential Envoy for Climate Change, John Kerry issued a joint statement on accelerating methane reductions to meet the Global Methane Pledge (GMP). Kazakhstan and the United States declared their mutual commitment to accelerate the development and implementation of policies and projects to rapidly reduce methane emissions, especially in the fossil energy sector.
Building on more than 30 years of successful partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States, this statement commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States and expanded opportunities for cooperation in the field of methane control. The statement: recognized the key role the two countries play in creating a greener, safer and better world; stressed the importance of rapidly reducing methane emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; recognized the significant potential of the fossil energy sector to reduce methane emissions and the need to rapidly reduce emissions in this sector.
The statement also served as a memorandum of understanding of the importance of voluntary action in promoting collective efforts to reduce global methane emissions; highlighted the need to seek to mobilize global action and strengthen support for existing international initiatives to reduce methane emissions through effective bilateral action; and recognized the critical participation of the private sector, development banks, financial institutions and international aid agencies in supporting the implementation of the Pledge.
