PRESS ALERT: Save the Caspian Sea Urges Parliament Lawmakers to Strengthen Policies to Protect the Caspian Sea and Local Communities’ Interests
ASTANA – April 22, 2025 – At a meeting of the Parliament Committee on Ecology and Nature Management on the topic “On the Implementation of International Obligations for the Protection of the Caspian Sea’s Marine Environment,” the founder of the global environmental movement Save the Caspian Sea, Vadim Ni, highlighted the lack of an effective mechanism to implement international conventions and agreements on the protection of the Caspian Sea.
He reminded attendees that Kazakhstan is a full party to several key international environmental agreements, including the Tehran Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, the Aarhus Convention on Public Access to Environmental Information, and the Paris Climate Agreement. However, he emphasized that the mechanisms set out in these agreements are not functioning in practice.
“The Tehran Convention was associated with major hopes and promises for solving the Caspian’s environmental issues. Next year marks 20 years since it came into force. However, participation under the convention has been limited and highly irregular. Only a very small number of individuals are even superficially familiar with its obligations and protocols. The hopes remain on paper – there isn’t even a permanent Secretariat for the convention. It has not become a meaningful diplomatic platform. There has been no progress in addressing the Caspian’s desiccation, and even the previously adopted protocols remain inactive,” said Ni.
He further noted that Article 21 of the Tehran Convention and Articles 4 and 5 of the Aarhus Convention mandate transparency and access to environmental information. Yet, the confidentiality of agreements signed in the 1990s concerning the three largest oil and gas fields – Karachaganak, Kashagan, and Tengiz – remains a major obstacle.
“The Caspian Sea is not just a natural resource. It is a source of life, stability, and international cooperation for millions of people. If the sea disappears, all investments, strategies, and ambitions will become meaningless,” Ni stressed.
Ni’s concerns were echoed by members of parliament. MP Sergey Ponomaryov remarked that efforts in this area have been extremely inadequate: “No one hears each other if, after 20 years, the location of the working commission is still undefined.”
In turn, the environmental movement Save the Caspian Sea advocates not only for stronger international but also national policies for the protection of the sea. The movement declared its readiness to:
The movement also emphasizes the need to review the environmental terms of all agreements with oil operators and ensure transparency in matters affecting public and environmental interests.
About the Movement:
The global movement Save the Caspian Sea was founded in December 2024 with the participation of Kazakhstani and international NGOs. Its mission is to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea and hold oil corporations accountable for the environmental consequences of their activities.
According to monitoring data, between 2005 and 2023, the Caspian Sea’s level dropped by 185 centimeters, and its surface area shrank by more than 31,000 square kilometers. If this trend continues, by the end of the 21st century, the water level could fall by 18 meters, reducing the sea’s area by 34%. Six species of endemic sturgeon are at risk of extinction, and the Caspian seal population has declined by 90% – from one million to just one hundred thousand individuals.
Since its inception, the movement has undertaken significant efforts to draw attention to the region’s environmental crisis. It organized the international conference You.Sea.Problem, bringing together experts, activists, scientists, lawmakers, and media representatives. It has also released the book “The Caspian Sea: To Save or To Lose” in three languages, the documentary “The Call of the Caspian,” and a series of educational videos – all available at www.savethecaspiansea.com.
Save the Caspian Sea calls on the media to raise awareness of the Caspian’s environmental issues and the accountability of oil companies. Public engagement and awareness are key.
ASTANA – April 22, 2025 – At a meeting of the Parliament Committee on Ecology and Nature Management on the topic “On the Implementation of International Obligations for the Protection of the Caspian Sea’s Marine Environment,” the founder of the global environmental movement Save the Caspian Sea, Vadim Ni, highlighted the lack of an effective mechanism to implement international conventions and agreements on the protection of the Caspian Sea.
He reminded attendees that Kazakhstan is a full party to several key international environmental agreements, including the Tehran Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, the Aarhus Convention on Public Access to Environmental Information, and the Paris Climate Agreement. However, he emphasized that the mechanisms set out in these agreements are not functioning in practice.
“The Tehran Convention was associated with major hopes and promises for solving the Caspian’s environmental issues. Next year marks 20 years since it came into force. However, participation under the convention has been limited and highly irregular. Only a very small number of individuals are even superficially familiar with its obligations and protocols. The hopes remain on paper – there isn’t even a permanent Secretariat for the convention. It has not become a meaningful diplomatic platform. There has been no progress in addressing the Caspian’s desiccation, and even the previously adopted protocols remain inactive,” said Ni.
He further noted that Article 21 of the Tehran Convention and Articles 4 and 5 of the Aarhus Convention mandate transparency and access to environmental information. Yet, the confidentiality of agreements signed in the 1990s concerning the three largest oil and gas fields – Karachaganak, Kashagan, and Tengiz – remains a major obstacle.
“The Caspian Sea is not just a natural resource. It is a source of life, stability, and international cooperation for millions of people. If the sea disappears, all investments, strategies, and ambitions will become meaningless,” Ni stressed.
Ni’s concerns were echoed by members of parliament. MP Sergey Ponomaryov remarked that efforts in this area have been extremely inadequate: “No one hears each other if, after 20 years, the location of the working commission is still undefined.”
In turn, the environmental movement Save the Caspian Sea advocates not only for stronger international but also national policies for the protection of the sea. The movement declared its readiness to:
- Actively participate in international negotiations under the conventions as an observer;
- Promote the creation of an open platform for dialogue among experts, the state, and civil society;
- Support the development of legislative initiatives aimed at protecting biodiversity, fostering independent environmental monitoring, and regulating activities in the northern Caspian region.
The movement also emphasizes the need to review the environmental terms of all agreements with oil operators and ensure transparency in matters affecting public and environmental interests.
About the Movement:
The global movement Save the Caspian Sea was founded in December 2024 with the participation of Kazakhstani and international NGOs. Its mission is to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea and hold oil corporations accountable for the environmental consequences of their activities.
According to monitoring data, between 2005 and 2023, the Caspian Sea’s level dropped by 185 centimeters, and its surface area shrank by more than 31,000 square kilometers. If this trend continues, by the end of the 21st century, the water level could fall by 18 meters, reducing the sea’s area by 34%. Six species of endemic sturgeon are at risk of extinction, and the Caspian seal population has declined by 90% – from one million to just one hundred thousand individuals.
Since its inception, the movement has undertaken significant efforts to draw attention to the region’s environmental crisis. It organized the international conference You.Sea.Problem, bringing together experts, activists, scientists, lawmakers, and media representatives. It has also released the book “The Caspian Sea: To Save or To Lose” in three languages, the documentary “The Call of the Caspian,” and a series of educational videos – all available at www.savethecaspiansea.com.
Save the Caspian Sea calls on the media to raise awareness of the Caspian’s environmental issues and the accountability of oil companies. Public engagement and awareness are key.
