Bonn: At the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, a high-level panel discussion titled 'Declining Seas, Retreating Shorelines and Sustainability and the Future of Enclosed Water Bodies: The Case of the Caspian Sea' was held in Bonn, Germany. The event was part of the United Nations June Climate Meetings (SB64), conducted from June 8 to 16.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the event was organized jointly by the IDEA Public Union, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Leyla Aliyeva, speaking at the opening of the event, emphasized the vulnerability of seas, rivers, and lakes. She highlighted the declining water level of the Caspian Sea and the reduction in the population of Caspian seals and other species, calling for solutions based on knowledge, expertise, and long-term commitment. Aliyeva also mentioned initiatives by the IDEA Public Union, such as waterbody clean-up campaigns, fish restocking programs, and the 'One Drop' project, which contribute to promoting a responsible approach to water as a crucial resource for life and sustainable development.
During the official proceedings, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC; Fatma Varank, CEO of COP31 and Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Trkiye; and Ana Toni, CEO of COP30, stressed the importance of maintaining international focus on the challenges from the Caspian Sea's declining water level and ecological sustainability of endorheic water bodies in the global climate agenda.
The discussions progressed in a panel session format, featuring participants such as Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan; Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division of UNEP; Michael Fishbach, Founder and Executive Director of the Great Whale Conservancy; Elnur Safarov, expert at the IDEA Public Union; Aziza Baubekova, researcher at the Kazakh Research Institute of the Caspian Sea and the University of Oulu in Finland; and Kamala Huseynli, Head of SPECA MPTF at UNECE. They exchanged views on the environmental, scientific, and socio-economic impacts of the Caspian Sea's declining water level, emphasizing the importance of such platforms for sharing scientific knowledge and fostering new partnership opportunities.
A short documentary on the Caspian Sea's environmental challenges was also screened, and the event concluded with an interactive Q and A session.