• KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00190 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09146 -2.56%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 -0.14%
02 December 2024

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 11

Caspian Sea Water Decline Requires Urgent Action, Says UNEP Chief

By the end of this century, the water levels of the Caspian Sea could drop by up to 18 meters, a decline that would devastate ecosystems and species, threaten livelihoods, and jeopardize food security and regional stability. Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted this concern during the event, “Caspian Sea Water Decline in Light of Climate Change” at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 18. According to Andersen, the Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, “is under siege from the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.” Andersen warned that without urgent action, this environmental and human crisis may result in as many as five million people being displaced from the Caspian basin by the middle of the century. [caption id="attachment_25708" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Inger Andersun; image: UNEP[/caption] The UNEP chief mentioned the impacts of the Caspian crisis: declining fisheries, salinization threatening agriculture, and the critically endangered Caspian seal — a species found nowhere else on Earth — facing extinction. Andersen emphasized the critical importance of the Tehran Convention — “the cornerstone for regional cooperation on the Caspian Sea.” The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) was signed by the five Caspian littoral states — Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan — in 2003 and entered into force in August 2006 after being ratified by all five governments. [caption id="attachment_25706" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Aktau, Kazakhstan; image: TCA, Ola Fiedorczuk[/caption] The Tehran Convention “provides a platform to align our efforts, to unite science and policy, and to prioritize sustainable development across this unique region. As the interim Secretariat of the Tehran Convention, UNEP is proud to support these vital efforts and remains firm in its commitment to providing technical expertise, fostering collaboration, and supporting innovative financing mechanisms to address this urgent challenge,” said Andersen, emphasizing that robust monitoring and predictive models are essential to understanding and managing the drivers of Caspian water level changes. “Science must inform every decision we take, whether on climate adaptation, biodiversity protection or pollution control,” Andersen stated, calling for regional cooperation to be strengthened. “The challenges the Caspian faces transcend borders. Solutions must do the same. Through trans-boundary collaboration, we can craft integrated solutions that safeguard ecosystems, support livelihoods, and promote equitable economic growth,” she stated. The Times of Central Asia earlier reported that the abundant floodwater in April-May 2024 raised Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea water level by over a meter. On July 1, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that the water level in the northeastern part of the Caspian Sea had risen by 119 cm since the beginning of 2024. The COP29 summit has been widely criticized for its "theatrics," "slow progress," and handing out the "red carpet" treatment to fossil fuel bosses.

Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea Ports Increase Cargo Transportation

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has announced that from January to October 2024, the country’s Caspian Sea ports transported 6.2 million tons of cargo, reflecting a 3% increase compared to the same period last year. Transit cargo shipments saw even stronger growth, rising by 18%. Truck transshipment via the Kuryk port’s ferry complex increased by 22%, while container transportation through the Aktau port surged by 84%, with approximately 27,000 containers moved along the East-West transit route. During the same period, the Sarzha terminal at Kuryk port handled 55,000 tons of cargo, including non-ferrous metals, fertilizers, and barley, destined for Turkey and Iran. In October, a new grain terminal with an annual capacity of 1 million tons was inaugurated at the Kuryk port. Efforts to enhance the port’s capacity continue. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has undertaken dredging operations at the Kuryk port to ensure sufficient depth for ship access, bolstering the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The dredging project will support further expansion of Kuryk’s terminal capacity, currently set at 6 million tons annually—4 million tons through its railway terminal and 2 million tons via its automobile terminal.

Scientists Investigate Deaths of 1,000 Caspian Sea Seals

More than 1,000 seal carcasses have washed ashore along a stretch of the Caspian Sea coast in the last month, according to the Kazakh government. The mass death of seals in the area has previously been reported, and similar events have occurred over the years. But new data from the Ministry of Agriculture reveals the large scale of the latest losses as scientists study tissue samples taken from the carcasses to find out why the seals died. “The Fisheries Committee suggests that natural phenomena, including natural gas emissions caused by underwater earthquakes, might be the reason behind the deaths,” the ministry said on Thursday. “Final conclusions regarding the causes of the seal deaths will be determined after laboratory tests are completed, which, according to scientific organizations, will take 3–4 months.” Fisheries officials discovered 1,034 seal carcasses along the coast in the Tupkaragan district of the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan between Oct. 24 and Nov. 13, according to the ministry. So far, tests of tissue samples are negative for a number of infectious diseases. Kazakh officials attributed the deaths of nearly 200 seals in late 2022 to pneumonia, while noting that environmental pollution in the Caspian Sea had made their immunity systems more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Concerns about the impact of oil extraction, industrial waste and other environmental damage on the sea’s ecoystem are increasing. Scientists have recorded mass deaths of seals in the Caspian Sea for more than two decades. In 2000, the deaths of about 10,000 seals was attributed to chronic toxicosis.

Storm Washes Dead Seals Ashore on Kazakhstan’s Caspian Coast

Seals have died in mass numbers on the coast of the Caspian Sea in the Mangistau region, according to Azamat Sarsenbayev, a blogger from Aktau. “In the area of Bautino, in Tupkaragan district, after recent storms, hundreds of red-listed seal carcasses were brought ashore; scientists have now counted 151 seal carcasses. According to scientists who are now studying seals in this area (who found the carcasses), some of the dead seals have mechanical injuries on their bodies,” he said. The Akimat of Mangistau region noted that the dead seals were thrown ashore due to north-western and western winds, which caused them to be carried to the coast. The bodies of the animals are in a stage of significant decomposition. Local authorities said the carcasses will be sent for examination to determine the possible causes of the animals' deaths. Samples taken from the 151 seals have been sent to the Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology, where specialists will conduct toxicological, histological, and virological analyses to determine the exact causes of death. According to the Akimat, the first 51 carcasses were found on October 24, and on October 25 and 26, another 100 bodies of dead seals were found on the same coast. Mass deaths of seals have been repeatedly recorded on the Caspian Sea coast. In December 2022, more than 2,500 carcasses were found in Russia's Dagestan. Studies have shown that the cause of death could be methane emissions, forming gassy areas of air above the water in doldrums, which causes suffocation in animals. In December 2023, similar incidents were recorded on the coast of Dagestan, where waves carried away about 130 seal carcasses, some of which may have been brought by currents from other regions of the Caspian Sea. Regular incidents, including the death of animals in fishing nets and water pollution, hurt the numbers of the Caspian seal, which is listed in the Red Book of endangered species.

Kazakhstan to Construct Seven New Offshore Vessels

Kazakhstan plans to expand its maritime fleet by building seven new vessels on the Caspian Sea. These vessels will be three tankers, two ferries, and two container ships. The construction of the vessels is part of a broader strategy to develop Kazakhstan's transportation and logistics infrastructure, which will strengthen its position on the Caspian Sea. Today, Kazakhstan's merchant fleet consists of 17 vessels: 10 tankers, four dry bulk carriers, and three container ships. In December 2023, KazMunayGas and Abu Dhabi Ports Group signed an agreement to establish a ship repair and shipbuilding yard in Kazakhstan. This project will provide the necessary base for the repair and construction of new vessels, which will increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan's fleet on a global level. In addition, Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its ties with Azerbaijan. Tankers have already been purchased to transport oil from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan for subsequent shipment via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. This cooperation will diversify export routes and ensure the stability of supplies. Turkey has become another significant partner of Kazakhstan in shipbuilding. Under an agreement with Turkish companies, new vessels will be built, providing the country with additional opportunities to develop trade relations in the region. This project will also reduce Kazakhstan's dependence on Russia in shipbuilding, and strengthen its position in the Caspian Sea.

Turkmenistan Celebrates Caspian Sea Day

The Caspian Sea Day is currently being celebrated in a series of festive events in Turkmenistan's national tourist zone, Avaza, With a key focus on environmental awareness, specialists from the Nature Protection Society of Turkmenistan have organized a programme of educational activities in schools and public spaces to instil in children, a love and respect for nature, encourage them to live in harmony with the environment, and develop a strong sense of responsibility for nature conservation. As part of the Caspian Day celebrations, the Society has conducted creative contests on environmental themes, exhibitions demonstrating the beauty of nature, photo contests, and cultural and sports competitions dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea. In addition to the above, Turkmenistan has organized international conferences, scientific meetings, and environmental events, with special attention paid to protecting the marine environment, preserving the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea, and developing regional cooperation. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan has consistently advocated turning the Caspian Sea into a zone of peace, trust, and ecological well-being, and is actively involved in developing trade, economic, and socio-cultural ties in the region. The Caspian Day on August 12 - a date chosen in connection with the instigation of the Framework Convention on the Protection of the Caspian Sea and the Environment from Pollution - has been celebrated annually since 2006, by the five Caspian littoral states: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Turkmenistan.