Countries are equipping themselves to fight oil spills together in world’s largest inland body of water

‘Caspian Day’ marked by entry into force of landmark protocol

Countries are equipping themselves to fight oil spills together in world’s largest inland body of water

Geneva, Switzerland 11 August 2016 – Ahead of Caspian Day, littoral states are gathering to mark the first entry into force of a legally-binding Protocol under the Tehran Convention, enabling them to prepare for, react to and cooperate on oil spills together.

A meeting of all five Caspian countries is being held today and tomorrow in Aktau, Kazakhstan - the city the Protocol was signed in – to review plans for it to take effect and explore ways of enhancing stakeholder participation in the Convention. The meeting is being attended by a wide range of participants, including representatives from the oil sector.

“For over a century the Caspian Sea has been associated with its oil industry.” This has created “a legacy of heavy environmental contamination,” UNEP Regional Director Jan Dusik reminded in a video message at the event.

“Yet today’s oil industry is different, and has adopted a responsible approach to gaining economic benefits hand-in-hand with preserving the environment,” he noted. “We hope that every actor in the oil extraction and transportation industry in the region will claim ownership of this Protocol and become a stakeholder in the process,” Mr Dusik underlined.

The Aktau Protocol regulates how countries should assist each other in case of oil pollution incidents and ensure that a minimum level of equipment is maintained in order to deal with spills effectively. It requires countries to inform each other of any emergency incidents on ships involving a discharge or probable discharge, their development and actions taken. Countries must also explore innovative means for mobilising resources to carry out the Protocol, including with the private sector. The Protocol is the first to be ratified by all Parties - Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan – and entered into force on 25 July 2016.

National oil spill contingency plans are to be coordinated and aligned with a draft regional plan to respond to spills. Plans are also in place at national level to ensure that civil society can contribute to protecting and safeguarding the Caspian Sea environment and coastal zones.

Day of celebrations

Local residents are heavily involved in preparing for annual celebrations taking place today and tomorrow to mark the entry into force of the Tehran Convention for the Caspian Sea and its environment.

The day is aimed at raising awareness on the unique ecosystem and biodiversity of the world’s largest inland body of water and the environmental risks faced by them. A wide range of events are taking place in all five littoral states.

Activities in Azerbaijan include an essay-writing competition for children, a study visit to a water treatment site and a 2ha clean-up at the Novkhany settlement near Baku. In the Russian Federation, an ongoing annual project sees over 500 hectares of waterbodies cleaned-up on the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and Volga delta.

In Iran, local governors, fishermen, experts and others will discuss the reasons behind and impact of Caspian Sea water level decreases during an event held at inBandar Turkman Harbour in the country’s Golestan Province.

The Mangistau Oblast Emergency Department in Kazakhstan will meanwhile hold training exercises for responding to oil spills at Aktau’s seaport, while a drawing competition is being organised themed ‘Let Caspian Live’ for orphanage children. Children are furthermore invited to replicate marine flora and fauna at an open-air sculpture event held in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, among other events in the country.

Note to Editors

The Tehran Convention, administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is the first legally-binding regional agreement concluded on 4 November 2003 and signed by all five states surrounding the Caspian Sea.

Caspian Day marks the signing of the Convention, whose full name is the Framework (Tehran) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea. In order to view the complete text of the Aktau Protocol please click here.

For more information on UNEP’s work for the Caspian Sea click here, while the status of ratification of other Protocols under the Tehran Convention can be viewed here.