Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

switched from liquid fuel to natural gas, which is used in industry and public utilities, as well as in the energy sector. The use of environmentally friendly and safe compressed natural gas, includ- ing for public transport, further contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Azerbaijan, State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2017). Iran has not submitted a report to the UNFCCC since its initial contribution in 2003. In 2000, CO 2 emissions totalled approximately 375 mil- lion tons, of which 90 per cent came from the energy sector, 8 per cent from the industrial sec- tor and 2 per cent from forestry (Iran, Depart- ment of Environment 2003). As in the rest of the Caspian littoral states, the oil and gas industry is a staple of the Iranian economy. However, the most recent atmospheric emissions data for Iran is from 2000. Greenhouse gas emissions also increased in Ka- zakhstan, from 162 million tons of CO 2 equiv- alent in 2000 to 271 million tons in 2011. There are, however, some regional variations. Following strategic efforts by the Government of Kazakhstan in Mangystau Region, which borders the Caspian Sea, greenhouse gas emissions are declining in this region. For instance, total emissions from indus- try, the main emitter, fell from 72,500 tons in 2015 to 65,800 tons in 2016 (Kazakhstan, Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Statistics Committee 2009–2018). To reduce atmospheric emissions in Mangystau Region, all large and small energy facilities, in- cluding municipal and private boiler plants, have been fully converted to gas. There has been an increase in the number of vehicles running on gas fuel. As of 1 January 2018, 88,513 (53.3 per cent) of the 166,005 registered vehicles in the region were equipped with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems and there were 211 LPG filling stations in the region (Kazakhstan, Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Statistics Committee 2009–2018). The Russian Federation ranks fourth in the world for greenhouse gas emissions. At the federal level, excluding changes in land use and forestry, emis- sions fell by 29.6 per cent between 1990 and 2015.

Turkmenistan is focused on the need to clean up hotspots like Soymonov Bay, which has been heavily polluted in the past by the refinery plant located on the shoreline. Wells have been drilled and equipped with pumping and separating equipment to extract polluted groundwater at the plant site, creating an effective system for re- moving oil pollutants from soil and groundwa- ter. CaspEcoControl monitors water quality in Soymonov Bay. Based on the results of monitor- ing carried out from 2010 to 2017, the average oil product content in 2017 was 2.2 mg per litre. New treatment facilities have been built at the refinery plant, which has significantly improved the ecological situation in the region (National Contribution). 4.5. Atmospheric emissions The Caspian region is a major contributor to atmospheric emissions. Greenhouse gas emis- sions have been increasing in the Caspian littoral states since 2000, though there was a dip during the global economic recession and decline in oil prices. Energy, including oil and gas extraction, industry, agriculture and waste are the main sec- tors contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The Caspian littoral states continue to submit regular reports on their greenhouse gas invento- ries, potential climate change scenarios and the progress they have made to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Oil and gas, transportation, industry and ag- riculture account for a significant share of the greenhouse gases emitted in Azerbaijan. Despite the fact that the country’s GDP increased fivefold between 2005 and 2016, greenhouse gas emis- sions rose from 49.5 million tons in 2005 to 50.9 million tons in 2016 (Azerbaijan, State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2017). The energy sector is the largest source of green- house gases, accounting for around 75 per cent of emissions in Azerbaijan. The agricultural indus- try is one of the main producers of methane and nitrous oxide. Greenhouse gas emissions in this industry increased from 6.5 million tons in 2005 to 7.1 million tons in 2016. In 2012, Azerbaijan 4.5.1. Greenhouse gas emissions

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