Issues of cooperation in solving the problems of the Caspian Sea were discussed at the Nevsky International Environmental Congress

Issues of cooperation in solving the problems of the Caspian Sea were discussed at the Nevsky International Environmental Congress.

The session "The Caspian Sea: Cooperation for the Future" was held within the framework of the XI Nevsky International Ecological Congress.

Andrey Yatskin, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, stressed that the Caspian Sea is a unique body of water, the world's largest enclosed body of water, with significant environmental, economic and geopolitical significance for the countries located on its coast.

The First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council called the shallowing of the Caspian Sea a serious threat to all Caspian littoral states. "Sea level fluctuations occur regularly, but it is alarming that the Caspian Sea has reached a record low over the past 400 years, which leads to serious changes in the coastline, especially on the northern and eastern coasts, where water retreat can reach several kilometers. The situation threatens the ecology of the region, the fishing industry, the port infrastructure, and the shipping of the entire Caspian region," Andrei Yatskin believes.

According to the parliamentarian, this year Russia has launched a large-scale federal project "Water of Russia", which is part of the national project "Environmental well-being". The project will affect almost all major Russian reservoirs, including the Ural and Terek rivers, which also feed the Caspian Sea. In relation to the Volga, it is planned to continue work on flooding the lower reaches of the river.

According to the senator, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, together with federal and regional authorities, is working to develop a comprehensive program to study changes in the Caspian Sea level and take measures to minimize possible negative consequences in conditions of low sea level.

"It is obvious that the issues of protecting the ecosystem of the Caspian basin require coordinated efforts by all five Caspian littoral states – the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Russia proceeds from the fact that any sphere of interaction in the region, including issues of ecology and nature management, should be regulated exclusively by the Caspian Littoral states themselves, without the involvement and interference of third countries," noted Andrei Yatskin. "It is also important to develop and implement measures to adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity and develop a sustainable economy in the region. A comprehensive approach is needed, which includes both immediate measures to minimize negative impacts and long-term strategies," believes the First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council.

Andrey Yatskin is confident that only through cooperation and sustainable development can a prosperous future of the Caspian Sea be ensured for future generations.

During a speech on "An integrated approach to assessing ecological release on the rivers of the Caspian Sea basin," Sergey Anoprienko, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management, recalled that the issue of shallowing the Caspian Sea and mitigating its consequences is being considered following the agreements and initiatives of the Sixth Caspian Summit (June 29, 2022, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan), and in particular The present has reached a new political level. Many issues of cooperation in the Caspian Sea have already been resolved. For example, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea (August 12, 2022, Aktau, Kazakhstan) promotes the development and strengthening of cooperation between the Caspian littoral States on the rational use of its resources, the study, protection and preservation of its natural environment. This agreement defines the basic rules of cooperation between states on laying underwater cables and pipelines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea.

Sergey Anoprienko drew attention to such an important topic as the ecological flow of rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea. According to him, studies show that the level of the Caspian Sea is primarily influenced by evaporation, precipitation and runoff of rivers flowing into it, which also depends on the situation in river basins and on drainage. "If climate change is beyond human control, then we can influence and regulate the water intake. Of course, it is impossible to completely stop water sampling, everyone understands this. However, it is possible to fine-tune the sea-flowing rivers system to minimize damage to coastal areas."

The senator believes that it is possible to introduce deep water purification and reuse systems, optimally regulate the accumulation and discharge of water in hydraulic structures in order to avoid excessive evaporation, and develop water saving plans in case of low-water forecast. "But all these measures, of course, require close cooperation between all the Caspian littoral countries in obtaining and exchanging reliable data on river water consumption and drainage. This work is already underway between Russia and Azerbaijan on the transboundary Samur River and with Kazakhstan on the Ural River. Mechanisms for water allocation and environmental releases have been created."