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Russia Environment Environmental Awareness Ecology Caspian Region Caspian Sea

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.

Environment World Bank Environmental Awareness Rogun HPP Energy Security

Rogun HPP Faces Criticism for Violating World Bank Standards

The international environmental coalition Rivers without Boundaries has released a report titled “Rogun Hydroelectric Power Plant Project: Non-Compliance Report with World Bank Requirements.” Outlining how the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan fails to meet the World Bank’s environmental and social standards, the report highlights violations in six key areas: environmental assessment, biodiversity protection, resource efficiency, dam safety, public participation, and forced displacement. It also highlights non-compliance with the bank’s policies on financing investment projects. The report’s authors point out that the situation worsened as a result of the World Bank taking responsibility for developing environmental and social safeguards for the Rogun HPP project on behalf of all financiers, including major banks like the AIIB, ADB, and EIB. In accepting this move, these institutions have effectively treated the World Bank's standards as their own. Therefore, if these standards are violated, the standards of other financial institutions are also breached. “We are convinced that the presented version of the Rogun HPP project does not comply with the social and environmental principles of the World Bank and should not be financed by international development banks in its current form,” said Evgeny Simonov, coordinator of the international environmental coalition 'Rivers Without Borders.' “Due to non-compliance with banking standards and procedures, the project includes many ineffective and risky elements that could lead to serious environmental and social damage during its implementation.” The report was created under the international Rogun Alert initiative, which represents environmental organizations worldwide. Last week, it was sent to all international development banks involved in the Rogun project. On October 23, an open letter signed by 124 public organizations, including Rivers Without Borders, highlighting the risks of financing large dam projects, including Rogun, will be presented to the World Bank management. According to the source, urgent international public consultations on the environmental and social impact of the construction of the Rogun HPP on the basin countries are planned for October 28 of this year.

Green economy Environment International Cooperation Economic Cooperation

Foreign Companies to Invest in Waste Recycling Plants across Uzbekistan

On October 21, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a presentation on new projects for recycling household waste into electricity. As reported by the president’s press service, Uzbekistan produces 14 million tons of solid waste annually, but only 4-5 percent is recycled. As a consequence, over 7 million tons of greenhouse gases and 43,000 tons of toxic substances formed at waste landfills are annually emitted into the atmosphere and penetrate the soil. To resolve the problem, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change has prepared several projects with foreign investors. The plan is to build waste incineration plants across Uzbekistan and process landfill gases at the Akhangaran landfill, with a total investment of about $1.3 billion. A Chinese company, CAMC Engineering, will invest $350 million in constructing two waste incineration plants in the Andijan and Tashkent regions, capable of processing 4,000 tons of waste daily and generating 630 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Another Chinese company, Shanghai SUS Environment, plans to invest $310 million in building two plants in the Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions to process 3,000 tons of waste daily and generate 480 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The United Arab Emirates Group is to invest $200 million in a plant in the Bukhara and Navoi regions to process 1,500 tons of waste daily and generate 363 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, and Sejin (Republic of Korea) will invest $55 million in the construction of a 16-megawatt electricity plant in the Akhangaran district of Tashkent to generate electricity from landfill gases. The combined projects, to be implemented between 2025-'27, are predicted to burn over 4.7 million tons of solid municipal waste annually and generate 2.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity worth $97 million, saving 152 million cubic meters of natural gas and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4 million tons. Back on September 26, the President of Uzbekistan established the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development aimed to introduce modern methods of collecting, sorting, and recycling waste and producing alternative energy, raw materials, and organic fertilizers. Eco-industrial zones are also to be created on landfill sites across Uzbekistan.

Legislation Environment Atomic Energy Government Green Energy Nuclear Energy Energy Infrastructure

Kazakhstan Plans to Equate Nuclear Energy With “Green” Energy

Kazakhstan plans to equate nuclear power with renewable energy sources (RES), such as solar and wind power, and extend to it the same benefits that already apply to them. The Energy Ministry has drafted a bill to incentivize alternative energy sources as part of the transition to a green economy, including the development of hydrogen energy. According to a document published on October 18 on the Open Regulatory Legal Acts portal, the discussion will last until November 11. One of the main problems identified in the draft is the need for legislative preferences for nuclear power despite its potential as an environmentally friendly source. In 2023, the share of RES in Kazakhstan was only about 6% of total electricity generation, emphasizing the need to develop alternative sources to reduce carbon emissions. Kazakhstan intends to follow the EU's example. In 2022, the EU recognized nuclear power as “green.” This recognition opens the way to receiving benefits and subsidies for future nuclear projects, including Kazakhstan's first atomic power plant. At the same time, the bill's authors noted that the analysis of international experience points to the constant clarification and supplementation of legislation considering current realities (technology development, market structure, global experience, and the current situation in the country). In particular, in Germany, the law on renewable (alternative) energy sources has undergone six amendments, including an increase in the targets for using alternative energy sources, adjustment of support measures taking into account the achieved level, and so on. Since 2000, various programs have been developed in Poland to supplement and clarify the different incentives for developing alternative energy sources.

Environment Nature Wildlife Conservation snow leopard Nature Reserve

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to Cooperate on Snow Leopard Conservation

As reported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, a memorandum of understanding on snow leopard conservation was signed on October 17 between Kazakhstan's and Kyrgyzstan's protected nature reserves. Initiated by UNDP in Kazakhstan with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the five-year agreement aims to conserve the snow leopard and its habitats in the northern Tien Shan Mountains within four of the countries' Specially Protected Nature Areas: the Kolsay Kolderi State National Park, the Almaty State Nature Reserve, the Ile-Alatau State National Park in Kazakhstan, and the Chon Kemin State Nature Park in Kyrgyzstan. The two countries will coordinate joint measures and share experiences in researching and strengthening snow leopard protection. Over the next five years, the parties will also develop and implement several initiatives to monitor the snow leopard, its habitats and food supply, promote transboundary and international cooperation, and increase public awareness and participation through snow leopard conservation programs. Nurken Sharbiyev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, citing the fact that the country's snow leopard population has increased by over 20% since 2019, to between 152 and 189 animals, stated, “This memorandum will strengthen the links between our countries to conserve this globally important species." Mirslav Amankulov, Vice Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan, said that Kyrgyzstan currently has over 400 snow leopards but noted: “As it is a migratory species, its habitat is not limited to the territory of the country. To study and preserve the snow leopard and its habitat, prevent the impact of serious threats such as illegal hunting and reduction of food supply and habitats due to human activities, interaction between stakeholders is needed, which will be facilitated by the implementation of measures under the signed memorandum between Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic." The snow leopard is recognized as a rare or endangered species in 12 countries and its population is indicative of the stability and health of the mountain ecosystem, which occupies a third of the globe. At the first International Forum on Snow Leopard Conservation in Bishkek in 2013, with the support of representatives of 12 snow leopard range countries and the international community, the Bishkek Declaration on the Protection of the Snow Leopard was unanimously adopted, and the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program was approved. Later, in December 2023, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov signed a Decree “On recognizing the snow leopard as a national symbol of the Kyrgyz Republic.”

Legislation Environment Nature Reserve Tree planting

Tajikistan to Strengthen Protection of Mulberry Trees

In a move to strengthen its silk industry, Tajikistan's parliament has approved amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences, increasing fines for damaging mulberry trees. Bakhodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee, who forwarded initiative, emphasized that the new measures will help protect the environment and restore mulberry plantations, which are vital for silkworms. Under the new rules, individuals damaging mulberry or other crops will face a fine of three to five calculation indexes. In comparison, officials can be fined seven to ten indexes (for 2024, 1 calculation index is 84 somoni, equivalent to $7.50). The final amounts will be approved following the adoption of amendments to the Code. Because the leaves of the trees are the main food base for mulberry silk worms, their preservation is critical for the restoration of an industry which has suffered a sharp decline over the last 30 years. In 1991, the country produced 4,528 tons of silk cocoons but by 2024, this figure had fallen to 361 tons. According to experts, the reason for the decline is a reduction of mulberry plantations, especially on private land on which trees have been felled and sold as firewood. Back in 2021, in an address to parliament , Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, called for special attention to be paid to the development of silk farming, emphasizing its importance in creating jobs, especially for women and girls. To encourage cocoon processing, he also waived land tax for a period of ten years on areas where mulberry trees are grown. Despite such measures, the situation barely improved. In response and to achieve its aim of increasing silk production to 1,867 tons by 2027, the Tajik government has introduced a program to plant over 4.3 million mulberry trees across the country. The total area covered by mulberry trees in Tajikistan is currently about 5,500 hectares. In addition to their economic importance, mulberries play an essential role in environmental conservation. Mulberry trees prevent soil erosion and the spread of dust storms. Also of note, is that rich in vitamins C, K, iron, and potassium, the berries provide an important food source and are widely used in traditional medicines. Additional measures to protect mulberry trees include strengthening local authorities' control over land allocation for new plantations and preventing the felling of existing trees. A comprehensive approach, including economic incentives and administrative measures, is expected to help Tajikistan bring silk production back to its previous level and make it one of the country's leading agricultural sectors.