Kazakhstan Calls for Regional Unity to Save Caspian and Aral Seas

Kazakhstan has called on Central Asian nations to unite in response to the worsening environmental crises facing the Caspian and Aral Seas.

Speaking at an environmental conference held in Altai, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that the shrinking of the Caspian Sea has become one of the region’s most urgent challenges, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kyrgyz media.

He noted that the sea’s level has been falling since the early 2000s and that scientific projections remain grim.

Among other major concerns is the deteriorating Aral Sea region. Kazakhstan is currently chairing the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and has taken active steps to address the crisis - including strengthening the Kok-Aral Dam, restoring the Syr Darya River delta, supporting local fisheries, and reforesting parts of the former seabed.

Kazakhstan also reaffirmed its readiness to take part in joint water management initiatives, ranging from reservoir regulation to the digital automation of water monitoring systems.

Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov added that Central Asia could face a water shortage of 20-30 per cent by 2050, which would pose serious risks to agriculture, energy, and regional livelihoods.