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High-Level Dialogue on the Tehran Convention Highlights Urgent Need for Action on Caspian Sea Decline

A high-level dialogue on strengthening regional cooperation under the Tehran Convention was convened during the Regional Environmental Summit (RES) in Astana on 23 April 2026, bringing together senior officials and international partners to address pressing environmental challenges facing the Caspian Sea, with a particular focus on sea level fluctuations.

Ceremonial Launch of the “Blueing the Caspian Sea Project” at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana

International Winter Waterbird Census: Observation Results in the Caspian Sea

As part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the International Waterbird Census and the 55th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention, Turkmenistan conducted large-scale winter waterbird counts, including extensive surveys of the Caspian Sea. The results confirmed the exceptional importance of the Caspian Sea as one of the most significant wintering and migration areas for waterbirds in Eurasia.

Meeting of the ad hoc Expert Group on the Arrangements of the Secretariat of the Convention to be held on 18–19 December in Geneva

Meeting of the ad hoc Expert Group on the arrangements of the Secretariat of the Convention will take place in Geneva on 18–19 December. The Expert Group was established by the decision of the Ministerial Consultations of the Caspian littoral states, with the mandate to prepare draft documents on the institutional, organizational and procedural arrangements of the Tehran Convention Secretariat.

Regional Meeting in Almaty to Advance the Caspian Sea Level Decline Action Plan

Regional meeting on the Caspian Sea Level Decline Action Plan was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 1-2 December 2025. The meeting brought together representatives of the five Caspian littoral states to review the updated the draft of the Action Plan, exchange national perspectives, and continue coordinated work toward a unified regional response to the ongoing decline in Caspian Sea level.

Two Regional Meetings held in Almaty to Advance the Implementation of the Moscow Protocol and Address Marine Litter in the Caspian Sea

Two back-to-back regional meetings were held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 25 to 28 November 2025, focusing on strengthening regional cooperation to prevent and reduce pollution of the Caspian Sea from land-based sources and activities. The meetings brought together representatives of the five Caspian littoral states to review progress, exchange national experiences, and agree on joint actions for the effective implementation of the Moscow Protocol and related regional initiatives

Caspian Sea Level Decline: Joint Efforts Toward Preservation and Resilience Event Concludes with Declaration at COP30

On November 17, 2025, at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, a high-level panel discussion convened to address the critical decline of the Caspian Sea. The event, organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Tehran Convention Secretariat concluded with the adoption of a Declaration, signaling a strengthened regional commitment to collaborative action.

Internship Opportunity with the Tehran Convention Secretariat in Geneva

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is offering an internship opportunity within its Europe Office in Geneva, supporting the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention).