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

The Regional Meeting on the entry into force and implementation of the Protocol for the Protection of the Caspian Sea against Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (Moscow Protocol) took place from 25 to 27 November 2025. The Moscow Protocol, adopted at the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Tehran Convention in Moscow, Russian Federation, on 12 December 2012, entered into force on 13 November 2023, following ratification by all five Caspian littoral states. It provides a comprehensive framework of measures to prevent, control, and reduce pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources in order to achieve and maintain an environmentally sound Caspian Sea. The entry into force and initiation of the implementation of the Moscow Protocol marks a significant step toward the restoration and protection of the fragile Caspian ecosystems from pollution.

Following the first meeting, the Regional Meeting on the regional components of the Project “Addressing Marine Litter and Marine Plastics – A Systematic Approach in the Caspian Sea”, implemented by UNEP, was held on 27–28 November 2025. Marine litter, including plastics and microplastics, continues to pose a major challenge to marine and coastal environments. The project, funded by the Russian Federation through its Official Development Assistance programme, is an initiative jointly implemented by UNDP and UNEP with a total budget of USD 4 million. The project aims to reduce marine litter and promote sustainable practices in support of the implementation of the Moscow Protocol, particularly through improving the management of land-based sources of pollution affecting the Caspian marine environment. The meeting in Almaty focused on the regional components of the project implemented by UNEP, including collection and assessment of information and data relevant to Caspian marine litter; strengthening legal, policy, and planning frameworks for land-based pollution control in the Caspian region; and proactive communication and stakeholder involvement.

Both meetings contribute to a coordinated regional approach to the implementation of the Moscow Protocol and to the broader efforts under the Tehran Convention aimed at achieving a cleaner and healthier Caspian Sea.