Mon, 27/04/2026 - 18:33
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.
The event was moderated by Mr. Mahir Aliyev, Coordinator of the Tehran Convention Secretariat and featured inaugural remarks from Mr. Zhomart Aliyev, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ms. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. In his presentation, Mr. Mahir Aliyev outlined key action areas under the Tehran Convention and introduced the Action Plan of the Caspian States on Sea Level Fluctuation for 2026–2036.
The discussion proceeded with key speeches from high-level representatives of all five Caspian littoral states and international organizations, including:
- Mr. Rauf Hajiyev – Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Mr. Ali Akbar Joukar – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Mr. Dmitry Tetenkin – Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
- Mr. Myrat Atajanov – Director of the Caspian Sea Institute, Turkmenistan
- Mr. Mukhtar Babayev – Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues
- Ms. Eldana Djumalieva – Support Programme Coordinator for the Islamic Republic of Iran, Green Climate Fund (GCF)
- Ms. Gayane Minasyan – Regional Manager for Environment with the Planet Department of the World Bank’s Group, Europe and Central Asia Region
- Ms. Katja Schaefer – Inter-Regional Advisor, Regional Programme for Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia, UN-Habitat
A central theme throughout the session was the alarming decline in the Caspian Sea’s water level, which poses significant environmental, economic, and social risks. Experts highlighted that shrinking shorelines, loss of critical habitats, and impacts on fisheries and coastal infrastructure are already being observed. The issue, driven by climate variability and reduced river inflow, requires urgent, coordinated, and science-based responses at both national and regional levels.
The second part of the session focused on mobilizing resources and strengthening partnerships to support implementation of the Action Plan. The session concluded with a shared recognition that reversing the negative trends affecting the Caspian Sea will require sustained political will, innovative solutions, and reinforced multilateral cooperation.
