UNDP launches regional project to tackle marine litter and plastic waste in the Caspian Sea

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Framework (Tehran) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, held an introductory conference to mark the launch of the regional project "Combatting Marine Litter and Marine Plastic Waste – A Systemic Approach in the Caspian."

The event was attended by representatives of relevant ministries and sectoral agencies, scientific institutions, and public organizations. The conference marked the official launch of the project in Turkmenistan and served as a platform to discuss joint actions to prevent and reduce pollution of the Caspian Sea with marine litter, particularly plastic waste.

During the conference, participants were informed about the project's objectives and main directions, including improving legislation in the field of waste management, developing monitoring and pollution prevention, as well as strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Tehran Convention.

"The regional initiative envisages a comprehensive approach that includes collecting and analyzing data on the sources and pathways of marine litter, improving the regulatory legal framework, promoting the principles of circular economy and product life cycle, encouraging investments in the waste management system, as well as expanding the participation of local communities, women, and entrepreneurs," noted Farhat Orunow, Programme Analyst of the UNDP environmental portfolio in Turkmenistan.

The project is being implemented with the financial support of the Russian Federation in Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, and will continue until October 2027.

Within the framework of the project, special attention will be paid to land-based sources of pollution affecting the marine environment of the Caspian Sea. This initiative will be integrated with the measures already being implemented by the Caspian states and will build upon the experience of cooperation within the Tehran Convention.

The launch of the project confirms the commitment of the Caspian countries to strengthening regional cooperation and taking joint measures to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea for future generations.