Methane (CH4) is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable byproduct of fossil fuel production. Its harmful environmental and health impacts are well-studied and documented. Methane is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Kazakhstan, rich in oil and gas, is a key energy producer in Central Asia and home to some of the region’s largest oil fields, operated by both Western and Chinese companies. However, this extensive resource extraction in the country has raised concerns about its environmental, health, and climate impacts, particularly concerning major extraction sites.
Methane’s negative effects on human health, the environment, and the climate can be reduced through the use of well-studied and cost-effective emissions reduction strategies.
However, the first step toward reducing the harmful environmental, climate, and health effects of methane is to increase the transparency of methane data reporting, foster public participation and community involvement in decision-making that affects their health, and ensure these decisions align with the country’s international environmental and climate commitments.
That’s why, since 2024, Crude Accountability has been leading a campaign to make environmental and health-related data on methane emissions available and accessible. Together with scientists, environmentalists, and community leaders, we aim to create a roadmap for mitigating methane emissions in the region.
About the Campaign
Drawing on over two decades of environmental and human rights work supporting communities affected by oil and gas development in Kazakhstan, Crude Accountability, together with local partners and community leaders, aims to deliver increased transparency in methane data reporting.
Working with partners inside and outside the country, Crude Accountability relies on satellite data, policy analysis, and ground-truthing to paint a realistic picture of the fossil fuel industry’s impact in the country.
Our goal is to ensure a productive dialogue with Kazakhstan’s authorities, international organizations, and corporations that would lead to mitigating the negative effects of chemical pollution on communities around the extraction facilities.