Methane Reduction Plan at a Glance: ASEAN-Korea Cooperation for Methane Mitigation

Overview of Methane in Lao PDR

Methane emissions in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic are relatively low in absolute terms compared with larger economies; however, they constitute a significant share of national greenhouse gas emissions due to the country’s agrarian and resource‑based economy. The primary sources of methane emissions in Laos are agriculture, waste, and energy‑related activities. Within the agriculture sector, major emission sources include enteric fermentation, manure management, biomass burning on forest land, cropland, and grassland, as well as flooded rice cultivation. In the waste sector, methane emissions mainly arise from solid waste disposal and wastewater treatment, while emissions from the energy sector are largely associated with fugitive emissions from hydropower reservoirs and limited fossil fuel use(1).

(1) Lao PDR BTR 1

According to the First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) of the Lao PDR, methane (CH₄) emissions in 2022 were dominated by the agriculture sector, which accounted for 6,757.24 Gg CO₂ equivalent, representing 74.26% of total CH₄ emissions. This was followed by the waste sector, contributing 1,403.92 Gg CO₂ equivalent (15.86%), and the energy sector, with emissions of 875.00 Gg CO₂ equivalent (9.88%). It is reported that no methane emissions were reported from the Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sector. Between 2020 and 2022, methane emissions increased across all major emitting sectors, with agriculture rising by 1.65%, energy by 4.86%, and waste by 2.83%, indicating an overall upward trend in national methane emissions over this period.

Methane Emissions in Lao PDR

Here's a visual representation of estimated methane emissions in Lao PDR.

74.26% Agriculture

15.86% Waste

9.88% Energy

3.00% Others

Challenges and Solutions

Lao PDR faces challenges in reducing methane emissions due to its agrarian economic structure, institutional constraints, and financial limitation. Emissions are dominated by traditional livestock practices and flooded rice cultivation, while rapid urbanization has outpaced waste management infrastructure, leading to unmanaged landfills and limited wastewater treatment. These challenges are compounded by data gaps, limited technical capacity, and constraints in financing and technology transfer(2).

The ASEAN–Korea Cooperation for Methane Mitigation (AKCMM) project aims to address the above challenges through policy strengthening, improved measurement, and project financing. It will enhance institutional frameworks, strengthen methane inventories and MRV systems in line with the Enhanced Transparency Framework, and identify priority methane mitigation actions in agriculture, waste, and energy sectors as well as fostering capacity building, technical assistance, and regional knowledge sharing, helping Laos improve data quality, overcome capacity constraints, and mobilize climate finance for methane mitigation initiatives.

The goal of the AKCMM project is to catalyze large‑scale methane emission reductions across ASEAN Member States, including Lao PDR.

(2) Lao PDR BTR1