Turkmen president, U.S. special envoy discuss cooperation in cutting methane emissions

ASHGABAT. Nov 28 (Interfax) - Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry discussed preparations for the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai during a phone call on Monday, the Turkmenistan State News Agency said.

Apart from COP28, the parties also focused on climate problems, including Turkmen-U.S. cooperation in reducing methane emissions into the atmosphere and the possibility of legally formalizing this cooperation, the news agency said.

Climate change issues are among the priorities of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, Berdimuhamedov said.

Kerry, in turn, put forth a number of specific proposals.

Global environmental challenges require states to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the parties said. At the same time, there is a need for investments in renewable energy resources and for developing climate change adaptation technologies.

Turkmenistan backed the Global Methane Commitment initiative at COP26, and is interested in studying it in detail, they said.

In conclusion of the phone call, which took place at the U.S.' initiative, Berdimuhamedov and Kerry spoke in favor of continuing constructive cooperation between the states.