In September 2023, the Republic of Korea launched the Partnership for ASEAN-ROK Methane Action (PARMA), a regional initiative to scale methane reduction efforts. PARMA focuses on matching ASEAN entities with Korean solution providers and building capacity through training and knowledge sharing. The initiative, supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, aligns with ASEAN’s broader goals and will serve as a foundation for future methane-related projects.

The project aims to contribute to reducing methane emissions in ASEAN countries by establishing a strong institutional, technical, and financial foundation for large-scale methane reduction. This will be achieved through a comprehensive set of activities, including methane measurements, regional guidelines and cooperation promotion, and support for methane reduction projects.

Country Project Codes: ROA016 / ID058 / KH042 / LA044 / PH043 / TH018 / VN027 / ROA040

Against this backdrop, the project focuses on the following four areas:

1. Developing enabling policies and institutions by (i) supporting the drafting of ASEAN Methane Reduction Roadmap, (ii) supporting the drafting of Methane Reduction Plans, (iii) establishing and operationalizing Methane Reduction Committees, and (iv) designing and implementing a Methane Reduction Capacity Building Program.

2. Improving measurement of methane emissions by (i) analyzing gaps in methane emissions inventory, (ii) improving methane emission measurements for priority sector(s), (iii) supporting MRV requirements under the Enhanced Transparency Framework.

3. Designing, financing, and implementing methane emission reduction projects by (i) shortlisting methane reduction projects from project developers in ASEAN countries, (ii) conducting feasibility studies and selecting project(s) to be financed and implemented, (iii) implementing methane reduction project(s).

4. Promoting regional dialogue and partnership by establishing an ASEAN knowledge platform for methane reduction.

Since the creation of the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC), ASEAN Member States (AMS) have made notable progress in climate action, focusing on CO2 emissions. This represents 60-70% of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in ASEAN. Efforts have centered around building capacity, developing policies, mobilizing climate finance, and implementing adaptation and mitigation projects in line with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. However, there is increasing recognition that reducing CO2 alone, at the current rate, will not meet the 2°C target. Policymakers are now shifting focus to other potent GHGs, particularly methane, which has a global warming potential (GWP) 27.9 times higher than CO2 over 100 years.

The Global Methane Pledge launched at COP26 has sparked efforts to scale up methane mitigation globally. Methane concentrations have increased significantly since 2014, with a 162% rise above pre-industrial levels by 2021, threatening CO2 reduction progress.

In ASEAN, the primary sources of methane are agriculture (44%), waste (30%), and fugitive emission (12%).

Although small-scale pilot projects exist, comprehensive, long-term methane reduction strategies are limited by policy gaps and resource constraints. Regional coordination, such as the ASEAN Energy Sector Methane Roundtable, is essential to address these shared challenges and emissions sources.

The main outcome of this project is to establish a strong institutional, technical, and financial foundation for the reduction of methane emissions at scale, thereby contributing to the vision of a sustainable ASEAN community that balances social development and environmental protection.

Direct beneficiaries
1,320 government officials, researchers from think tanks and academic institutions, private sector representatives, and policymakers.

Indirect beneficiaries
1.2 million individuals benefitting from retrofitting/construction of modern wastewater treatment plants, capped landfills, and improved yield and water savings from alternate wetting and drying method of rice cultivation.

Other potential beneficiaries

Republic of Korea – Korean entities with methane-reducing technology/solutions may benefit through:

(i) increased demand for green products and brand recognitions for stakeholders from the private sector in Korea, technology providers.

(ii) generation of performance data (of their technology or solution) through Output 3.

Global Green Growth Institute may benefit through:

(i) improved know-how of its staff members on methane-related activities.

(ii) better understanding of the needs of AMS with respect to methane reduction.