Japan and the United Nations Development Programme are launching a $3 million environmental project in Kazakhstan to support the Caspian Sea and improve water monitoring, amid growing concern over falling sea levels and risks to regional trade routes.
The shrinking Caspian Sea is moving higher up the international agenda as environmental and economic concerns intensify across the region.
Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a new $3 million environmental project in Kazakhstan aimed at supporting the sea and improving water monitoring systems.
Particular attention will be given to the North Caspian, which is directly linked to Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, where declining water levels are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The initiative will be carried out in partnership with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. However, environmental concerns are only part of the story.
The Caspian Sea also plays an important role in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, better known as the Middle Corridor, which has become an increasingly significant trade link between Asia and Europe.
Japan’s interest in the region reflects those wider concerns. Development of the route was actively discussed during meetings held under the “Central Asia + Japan” format last year, as Tokyo sought closer ties with a region gaining importance in global transport and supply chains.
Falling sea levels in the Caspian could eventually affect port operations, cargo flows and shipping along the route.
Scientists say the shrinking of the Caspian Sea is becoming one of the region’s most serious environmental challenges. Researchers link the decline to climate change, rising temperatures, increased evaporation, lower river inflows and growing pressure on water resources.
Kazakhstan has already warned that the situation may worsen. Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mansur Oshurbayev has said water levels are expected to continue falling until 2050 and could approach minus 33 metres in the Baltic height system.
According to the ministry, the drop has already reached a critical level.
The new international funding comes alongside measures already introduced by Kazakhstan. Authorities have allocated around $2.1 million from a government reserve for research and preservation work linked to the Caspian Sea.
The funding will be used to purchase marine monitoring equipment as officials seek to improve forecasting and better understand how quickly water levels are changing.
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed aga...
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump...
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of confli...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central...
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
An armed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on a Black Sea beach in northern Türkiye on Sunday, prompting a security operation and the controlled detonation of its munitions.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being recruited by a mystery figure known only as "EL Money".
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed against Iranians by Israel and the United States.
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
An armed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on a Black Sea beach in northern Türkiye on Sunday, prompting a security operation and the controlled detonation of its munitions.
Fighting in southern Lebanon eased on Monday after a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending months of regional conflict was announced, although uncertainty remained over how the deal would be implemented on the ground.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday welcomed the newly announced peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, urging all parties to exercise restraint and work towards a lasting settlement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment