BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 1. Turkmenistan and UN
agencies discussed Caspian waste monitoring at a roundtable in
Ashgabat.
This was reflected in a statement published by the press service
of the Turkmen government on August 1.
The roundtable was organized by the Ministry of Environmental
Protection of Turkmenistan together with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention.
“Particular emphasis was placed on the launch of a specialized
waste monitoring program, which will make it possible to accurately
identify pollution sources and improve the effectiveness of
environmental initiatives,” the statement said.
According to the press release, participants also discussed ways
to improve Turkmenistan’s waste management system. They reviewed
options for modern regulatory standards, while also examining
advanced methods of data collection and environmental
monitoring.
The proposed monitoring program is intended to reduce land-based
waste entering the Caspian Sea, the report notes. It is also
expected to strengthen regional cooperation and promote circular
economy principles across the Caspian region.
The roundtable builds on a broader regional initiative launched
in February 2026 by UNDP, UNEP and the Secretariat of the Tehran
Convention to combat marine litter and plastic pollution in the
Caspian Sea. Funded by the Russian Federation and implemented in
Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan through 2027, the
project focuses on reducing land-based waste entering the Caspian
by strengthening waste management policies, improving monitoring
systems and promoting circular economy approaches.
The initiative is being implemented within the framework of the
Tehran Convention, the legally binding regional agreement on
environmental protection in the Caspian Sea. The convention
provides the five littoral states with a platform to coordinate
pollution monitoring, harmonize environmental standards and develop
joint measures to address transboundary environmental
challenges.
