Astana, Kazakhstan – February 14, 2025 – The Save the Caspian Sea campaign has concluded its second roundtable, YOU. SEA. PROBLEM., in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event brought together key stakeholders, including environmental experts, public organizations, and oil and gas industry representatives, to address the urgent environmental challenges facing the Caspian Sea and the need for greater transparency in resource extraction practices.
A major development at the event was the announcement made by Vadim Ni, founder of the Save the Caspian Sea campaign, regarding the launch of a lawsuit aimed at compelling the release of the Product Sharing Agreements (PSAs) and concession agreements under which oil extractors have been operating in the Caspian region. These agreements, which have remained hidden from public view, are critical to understanding oil extraction's environmental and economic impact in the region. The lawsuit calls for these documents to be made publicly available for scrutiny and renegotiation.
"We are at a crucial juncture for the Caspian Sea. For years, the public has been kept in the dark about the terms of the PSAs governing extraction activities in the region. It is time for a new era of transparency," said Vadim Ni. "President Tokayev has rightly called for the renegotiation of these contracts, and our lawsuit aims to ensure that the process is conducted openly, with full access to the terms that govern the actions of oil companies operating in the Caspian. This lawsuit is about ensuring that the policies reflect the public’s interest and promote a sustainable future for the Caspian Sea and its ecosystems."
The roundtable featured crucial discussions on the Caspian's environmental state, with experts detailing the dangers posed by industrial activities, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding biodiversity and calling for greater responsibility of oil companies to preserve the Caspian’s integrity.
The Save the Caspian Sea campaign ensures transparency and holds those responsible accountable. "This is a fight for the survival of the Caspian," said Ni. "We won’t stop until those in power recognize the urgency of this crisis and act to protect this irreplaceable ecosystem for future generations."
For more information, visit the Save the Caspian Sea website.
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About
The Save the Caspian Sea campaign is committed to protecting the Caspian Sea’s unique ecosystem by advocating for greater transparency, environmental accountability, and sustainable resource extraction practices. The campaign collaborates with environmental organizations, local communities, governments, and industry stakeholders to address the Caspian's urgent environmental challenges. Through public advocacy and international cooperation, the campaign ensures the long-term health and preservation of the Caspian Sea for future generations.
Recent activities:
The Save the Caspian Sea campaign has been actively engaging in various initiatives to promote environmental awareness and collaboration. The campaign has organized an international conference focusing on the environmental crisis of the Caspian Sea. In addition, Vadim Ni, founder of the campaign, has been featured in interviews with both local and international media outlets, including television appearances, to discuss the pressing environmental issues facing the Caspian Sea and advocate for greater transparency in resource extraction practices. The campaign collaborates with international environmental communities and holds membership in organizations such as Crude Accountability, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and BlueCommunity.org, strengthening its commitment to sustainable ecosystems.
Vadim Ni is a leading environmental activist and the founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement. With a background in environmental law and grassroots mobilization, Vadim has been at the forefront of advocacy for sustainable development in Central Asia. Vadim co-authored the "Aarhus Centres Guidelines," contributing significantly to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention, which emphasizes access to information, public participation, and access to justice in environmental matters. His work has been instrumental in advancing environmental transparency and public engagement in Kazakhstan and beyond
Link to video: https://youtu.be/4qVousTMQ6g
Contact:
Media team
+7706 4134970
media@savethecaspiansea.com
A major development at the event was the announcement made by Vadim Ni, founder of the Save the Caspian Sea campaign, regarding the launch of a lawsuit aimed at compelling the release of the Product Sharing Agreements (PSAs) and concession agreements under which oil extractors have been operating in the Caspian region. These agreements, which have remained hidden from public view, are critical to understanding oil extraction's environmental and economic impact in the region. The lawsuit calls for these documents to be made publicly available for scrutiny and renegotiation.
"We are at a crucial juncture for the Caspian Sea. For years, the public has been kept in the dark about the terms of the PSAs governing extraction activities in the region. It is time for a new era of transparency," said Vadim Ni. "President Tokayev has rightly called for the renegotiation of these contracts, and our lawsuit aims to ensure that the process is conducted openly, with full access to the terms that govern the actions of oil companies operating in the Caspian. This lawsuit is about ensuring that the policies reflect the public’s interest and promote a sustainable future for the Caspian Sea and its ecosystems."
The roundtable featured crucial discussions on the Caspian's environmental state, with experts detailing the dangers posed by industrial activities, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding biodiversity and calling for greater responsibility of oil companies to preserve the Caspian’s integrity.
The Save the Caspian Sea campaign ensures transparency and holds those responsible accountable. "This is a fight for the survival of the Caspian," said Ni. "We won’t stop until those in power recognize the urgency of this crisis and act to protect this irreplaceable ecosystem for future generations."
For more information, visit the Save the Caspian Sea website.
--
About
The Save the Caspian Sea campaign is committed to protecting the Caspian Sea’s unique ecosystem by advocating for greater transparency, environmental accountability, and sustainable resource extraction practices. The campaign collaborates with environmental organizations, local communities, governments, and industry stakeholders to address the Caspian's urgent environmental challenges. Through public advocacy and international cooperation, the campaign ensures the long-term health and preservation of the Caspian Sea for future generations.
Recent activities:
The Save the Caspian Sea campaign has been actively engaging in various initiatives to promote environmental awareness and collaboration. The campaign has organized an international conference focusing on the environmental crisis of the Caspian Sea. In addition, Vadim Ni, founder of the campaign, has been featured in interviews with both local and international media outlets, including television appearances, to discuss the pressing environmental issues facing the Caspian Sea and advocate for greater transparency in resource extraction practices. The campaign collaborates with international environmental communities and holds membership in organizations such as Crude Accountability, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and BlueCommunity.org, strengthening its commitment to sustainable ecosystems.
Vadim Ni is a leading environmental activist and the founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement. With a background in environmental law and grassroots mobilization, Vadim has been at the forefront of advocacy for sustainable development in Central Asia. Vadim co-authored the "Aarhus Centres Guidelines," contributing significantly to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention, which emphasizes access to information, public participation, and access to justice in environmental matters. His work has been instrumental in advancing environmental transparency and public engagement in Kazakhstan and beyond
Link to video: https://youtu.be/4qVousTMQ6g
Contact:
Media team
+7706 4134970
media@savethecaspiansea.com
