BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 13. An event titled
“A Sea in Retreat: Climate, Nature and People on the Caspian
Frontline” was organized in partnership with the IDEA Public Union
and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on
the sidelines of the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties
to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).
Addressing the opening ceremony, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President
of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA
Public Union, noted that the declining water level of the Caspian
Sea threatens the survival of rare species inhabiting the region,
including sturgeons and Caspian seals. She underscored the
importance of expanding scientific research, enhancing
international cooperation, and pursuing joint action to address the
sea’s environmental challenges.
Highlighting the projects implemented by the IDEA Public Union
in this field, Leyla Aliyeva mentioned that scientific expeditions
have been organized to investigate the causes behind the decline in
the Caspian seal population, while fingerlings of various fish
species have been released into water bodies to replenish fish
stocks.
Leyla Aliyeva also highlighted IDEA’s initiatives aimed at
cleaning up the Caspian Sea coastline. It was noted that nearly
7,000 volunteers have joined coastal cleanup campaigns organized
since 2011, collecting over 120 tons of waste for recycling. Noting
that the future of the Caspian Sea depends on decisions made today,
she called for protecting its rich nature for future
generations.
Stewart Maginnis, IUCN Deputy Director General, and Dario
Liguti, Director of the Sustainable Energy Division at the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), also addressed the
opening ceremony.
The following panel discussions featured Caspian research expert
at the IDEA Public Union Elnur Safarov, representative of the UK’s
University of Leeds Simon Goodman, founder and Executive Director
of the Great Whale Conservancy Michael Fishbach, as well as
representative of the University of Geneva and Chair of the
Caspisnet network Alexandre Hedjazi.
Discussions focused on climatic factors driving the decline in
the Caspian Sea’s water level, biodiversity conservation, adapting
marine ecosystems to changing conditions, and strengthening
regional collaboration.
The event concluded with the screening of a short documentary
produced by the IDEA Public Union highlighting the current
environmental situation of the Caspian Sea.
