Events
This section presents past and upcoming events in the Caspian Sea region related to environmental protection.
8–10 October 2024Implementation and Operational Authorities Meeting under the Aktau ProtocolAktau, Kazakhstan- Location
- Aktau, Kazakhstan
- Attached documents
18–19 June 2024First Preparatory Committee to the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Tehran Convention,- Location
- ,
First PrepCom to the COP7 of the Tehran Convention was held online on 18-19 June 2024. During PrepCom-1 the participants discussed the activities to start the implementation of the Moscow Protocol which entered into force in November 2023, priority actions for the Protocol for the Conservation of Biological Diversity ("Ashgabat Protocol") and the Protocol on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (EIA Protocol) to the Tehran Convention. The meeting also discussed the Draft Terms of Reference and arrangements for the Scientific Network of the Caspian Sea Region.
- Attached documents
12 June 2024Meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and AssessmentBaku, Azerbaijan- Location
- Baku, Azerbaijan
The Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment (WGMA) was established in 2015 following a decision by COP5 (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2014) as an advisory body to the Tehran Convention Secretariat with a primary goal to facilitate and coordinate the activities of the Contracting Parties in the marine environmental monitoring to fulfil their obligations under the Article 19 of the Tehran Convention. COP6 in October 2022 confirmed the Terms of Reference and the composition of the WGMA.
During its previous meetings in 2023 and earlier in 2024 the Group examined capabilities of the Parties in the marine environmental monitoring and developed a roadmap to the earliest finalization and implementation of the EMP to the best extent possible for the Caspian littoral states to this day with the intention to broaden the scope of the monitoring activities in future. This work will continue along with discussions on the arrangements to start the implementation of the Moscow Protocol to the Tehran Convention at an early date.
- Attached documents
10–11 June 2024Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Tehran Convention on Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran ConventionBaku, Azerbaijan- Location
- Baku, Azerbaijan
Negotiations continue on the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran Convention. A meeting to finalize the text of the Protocol was held in Baku on 10-11 June 2014.
The negotiations on the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange were initiated by the decision of the Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Tehran Convention (COP5) of 30 May 2024.
Provisions of the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange will regulate standards and procedures for national reporting and provide a set of water quality objectives to strive for. The Protocol sets requirements on environmental monitoring, assessment, access to and exchange of environmental information, as well as procedural framework for implementation of the Protocol’s provisions.
16 April 2024Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Tehran Convention on Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran Convention,- Location
- ,
An online meeting was held on 16 April 2024 to bring together representatives of all the Caspian littoral states as well as environmental experts to discuss provisions of the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange.
The elaboration of the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange was started with the decision of Conference of the Parties to the Tehran Convention during its Fifth Meeting in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in 2014. COP5 determined “to initiate and service intergovernmental consultations related to the development of such a framework, in consultation with the Working Group on Monitoring and Information Exchange”.
The next meeting of expert to negotiate and finalize the text of the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange will be held in person in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 10 to 11 June 2024.
- Attached documents
11 March 2024Meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment,- Location
- ,
The Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment held an online meeting to review and discuss the list of marine parameters indispensable for a proper description of the state of the Caspian environment and agree on the next steps to be taken towards the implementation of the updated Environment Monitoring Programme.
Lately the WGMA activities have been focused on updating of the Environmental Monitoring Programme which had been developed and welcomed by COP-4 in 2012 “as the basis for continuation of this activity and capacity building and regional cooperation for monitoring the parameters which determine the quality of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea”. During the meeting, the members of the WGMA examined capabilities of the Parties in the marine environmental monitoring and developed a roadmap to the earliest finalization and implementation of the EMP to the best extent possible for the Caspian littoral states to this day with the intention to broaden the scope of the monitoring activities in future.
- Attached documents
20 February 2024Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Tehran Convention on Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran Convention,- Location
- ,
Online Meeting on the Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange was held on 20 February 2024.
The Protocol concerns issues of the Caspian Sea marine and coastal environment monitoring, information exchange and assessment of the state of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea.
Provisions of the Protocol will regulate a set of water quality objectives and standards, national reporting on the implementation of the Tehran Convention and its Protocols in accordance with the Unified Reporting Format and regulate the State of the Caspian Sea Environment reporting.
18–19 December 20231st Meeting of the ad hoc Expert Group on the arrangements of the Secretariat of the ConventionBaku, Azerbaijan- Location
- Baku, Azerbaijan
The ad hoc Expert Group on the arrangements of the Secretariat was established by the Decision of the Ministerial Consultations of the Caspian Littoral States in September 2023. The main goal of the Expert Group is to prepare draft documents on the arrangements of the Secretariat of the Convention.
The Ministerial Consultations of the Caspian Littoral States held on 21-22 September 2023 in Geneva decided to establish an ad hoc Expert Group comprised of representatives appointed by the Contracting Parties of the Tehran Convention, aimed at the preparation within the shortest possible timeframe of draft documents on the arrangements of the Secretariat of the Convention, recruitment of personnel, taking into account the equitable representation of Caspian Littoral States, rules of procedure, and financial rules of the Secretariat, as well as its cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme.
- Attached documents
9 December 2023"Scientific Network and Climate Adaptation in the Caspian Sea Region”: COP28 Side EventBaku, Azerbaijan- Location
- Baku, Azerbaijan
On 9 December 2023 a Side Event was organized under the auspices of the MENR of Azerbaijan, TCIS and CASPCOM. The main focus of the event was the scientific cooperation in the Caspian Sea region and practical application of research results in project proposals elaboration.
A Side Event took place in the pavilion of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Tehran Convention interim Secretariat and the Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea (CASPCOM). The Agenda of the Side Event focused on three main items: 1) Outcomes of the Scientific Conference on Climate Change in the Caspian Sea Region organized in October 2021; 2) "Urbanization and Climate Change Adaptation in the Caspian Sea Region" project submitted for the consideration of the Adaptation Fund; 3) Terms of Reference and Arrangements for the Scientific Network of the Caspian Sea Region.
14 November 2023Fifth Caspian Sea ALPHA/BRAVO Exercise under the Aktau Protocol,- Location
- ,
Bravo exercise on Alarm and Communication exercise was held under the leadership of Turkmenistan with support of the Tehran Convention interim Secretariat. The representatives of the Lead State provided a description of the incident scenario and outlined the goals and objectives for representatives of the Contracting Parties during the exercise.The aim of the Bravo exercise is to test the agreed procedures and lines of communication for reporting, requesting and providing assistance, and to get a picture of the current response readiness of the Contracting Parties when called to assist. The exercise further aims at familiarizing the personnel with the use and national handling of the adopted POLREP reporting form.
Event
Implementation and Operational Authorities Meeting under the Aktau Protocol
Event
First Preparatory Committee to the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Tehran Convention
Event
Meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
Event
Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Tehran Convention on Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran Convention
Event
Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Tehran Convention on Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran Convention
Event
Meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
Event
Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Tehran Convention on Protocol on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Exchange to the Tehran Convention
Event
1st Meeting of the ad hoc Expert Group on the arrangements of the Secretariat of the Convention
Event
"Scientific Network and Climate Adaptation in the Caspian Sea Region”: COP28 Side Event
Event
