Expert group meeting to study the causes of Caspian Sea level fluctuations held in Baku on 2-3 November 2023

The meeting of the expert group to study the causes of Caspian Sea level fluctuations and develop climate scenarios and adaptation measures was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country office.

Opening remarks were made by H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Mr. Fakhraddin Gadirov, Director General of the Oil and Gas Institute of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, and by Mr. Mahir Aliyev, Regional coordinator of UNEP and Coordinator of the Tehran Convention interim Secretariat, as well as by representatives of the Caspian littoral states.

On the first day the experts and participants discussed impacts of climate change, including temperature fluctuations and precipitation patterns in the Caspian Sea region, international cooperation to address future challenges of Caspian Sea level fluctuations and development of forecasting methods and monitoring systems to monitor sea level fluctuations. In the spotlight of the second day were environmental consequences of the climate change and impact of sea level changes on ecosystems and biodiversity of the Caspian Sea.

In the end of the meeting experts and participants agreed on continuation of discussions on current and future changes of the sea level and adaptation to its consequences, and on necessity of development and agreement on a work plan in the sphere of monitoring, assessment of hydrometeorological and other elements and processes, which have impact on the Caspian Sea level as well as joint development agreed climatic and sea level scenarios and adaptation measures on the regional level.

For more information please contact tcsecretariat@tehranconvention.org.