A unique natural treasure, a source of prosperity for millions of people, and a key transport and energy hub of Eurasia – this is what the Caspian Sea represents today. Preserving its ecosystem requires particular attention, above all from the Caspian littoral states. At the Caspian Environmental Summit in Avaza, Turkmenistan, participants discussed the risks of the sea’s shallowing, pollution and growing human-induced pressure. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key areas for cooperation, emphasizing the need for a coordinated scientific approach to addressing environmental threats. To develop adaptation scenarios, the President proposed drawing on the expertise of Kazakhstan’s Research Institute for the Caspian Sea. The creation of a shared digital platform would also help process and analyze data on the state of water resources, changes in the shoreline, biodiversity and other parameters. The Head of State called for international efforts to be consolidated and establish a coordinated portfolio of the most promising projects to restore not only the sea itself but also the river basins that feed into it. The Head of State also emphasized the fundamental importance of completing the establishment of a permanent Secretariat of the Tehran Convention.
«We need an effective mechanism to ensure continuity in decision-making, coordinate activities and monitor the implementation of all agreements reached at the highest level. Kazakhstan will continue its efforts to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations. Our shared objective is to improve the effectiveness of global water governance while giving priority attention to the environmental state of the Caspian Sea. Water security must be given its rightful place on the international agenda, alongside food, energy and climate security,» Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted.
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