Kazakh PM Highlights Alarming Caspian Sea Water Drop at Global Environmental Forum

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the critical issue of declining water levels in the Caspian Sea as one of the region’s most urgent environmental concerns at the 1st International Environmental Conference held in Manzherok, Russia’s Altai Republic.

Since the early 2000s, the Caspian Sea has experienced a continuous drop in its water levels, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

In response, Kazakhstan established the Caspian Sea Research Institute to closely monitor this trend. Bektenov emphasized alarming expert forecasts and called for coordinated and decisive action by all Caspian littoral states to protect this vital ecosystem.

The prime minister also drew attention to the environmental crisis facing the Aral Sea basin. Kazakhstan, currently chairing the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, is actively involved in projects to restore the sea, including reinforcing the Kokaral dam, rehabilitating the Syr Darya River Delta, supporting the fishing industry, and promoting reforestation on the dried seabed.

Highlighting the importance of glacier preservation, Bektenov noted projections indicating a significant loss of glaciers in Central Asia by 2100. To combat this, Kazakhstan launched the “Water Towers Partnership” initiative at the Riyadh summit, aimed at uniting regional efforts to study and safeguard glaciers. The Central Asian Regional Glaciological Centre (CARGC), under UNESCO in Almaty, plays a leading role in these efforts.

Furthermore, Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to implement joint hydraulic engineering projects, including reservoir management and automated water metering technologies.

Bektenov’s participation at the conference reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to addressing pressing environmental issues through regional cooperation.