Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

altered its natural rhythm, resulting in dry, warm years for the 1996–2015 period, with 2006–2015 being especially unfavourable years. The Caspian Sea is a closed reservoir. It is char- acterized by significant fluctuations in sea level. And this natural rhythm was inherent in the Caspian Sea. However, global warming disturbs it. As a result, the dry years coincided with the warm ones in 1996–2015. The period 2006-2015 was especially unfavourable. The faster the change in sea level occurs, the more severe its consequences. In the 20th cen- tury, the fastest sea level decline was observed between 1931 and 1940. During this period, it amounted to 1.7 m. Sea level growth was the fast- est between 1978 and 1995, amounting to about 2.5 m. Since 1996, sea level has been declining. A particularly noticeable drop (almost 1 m) was noted between 2006 and 2015. In 2016–2017, sea levels stabilized. In addition to these significant drivers are the expected increases in shipping activities and tourism, which will most likely put further pres- sure on the environment in the future. Marine litter in the Caspian Sea is yet another issue, though it receives little attention and there is no reliable information on the volumes of debris discharged into the region’s coastal or marine environment. Response The region’s countries are responding to chal- lenges and addressing emerging issues, taking into account any complexities to unite their ef- forts. One area of their activities is the develop- ment and strengthening of international cooper- ation at the regional level. The current forms of international environmen- tal cooperation in the Caspian region include: • bilateral cooperation under relevant agree- ments • joint activities under multilateral environ- mental agreements. Multilateral cooperation includes collabora- tion and joint work with the Commission on

Aquatic Bioresources of the Caspian Sea and the Coordinating Committee on Hydromete- orology (CASPCOM). The main interactions between CASPCOM and the Tehran Conven- tion include monitoring the pollution of the Caspian Sea’s marine environment and provid- ing hydrometeorological information to regu- larly assess its state. In addition to multilateral cooperation, sever- al interstate agreements have been signed, with countries actively seeking to improve national environmental management. This includes im- proving institutional structures and national legislation. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work- ing on various environmental aspects, including the communication of information on the state of the environment, are active in the region. Such NGOs participate in developing strategic environmental assessments and environmental impact assessments, as well as in implementing various international environmental projects. Measures In accordance with their obligations under the Tehran Convention, the Caspian littoral states both independently and jointly take necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control pol- lution in order to protect, preserve and restore the Caspian Sea’s marine environment. Over the past decade, countries have made great efforts to protect the region’s most valuable areas, both on land and in the marine environ- ment. Countries are also paying attention to the creation of protected areas and the main- tenance of existing ones. However, challenges persist. It is therefore nec- essary to establish an integrated planning ap- proach to develop the territory and economies of specific sectors, taking into account changing natural conditions, including climate change. Determining whether there are any environ- mental risks related to economic activities in coastal marine areas is crucial, as is the regula- tion of any other activities, as well as those that may harm or affect biodiversity or jeopardize the conservation of ecosystems.

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