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.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced on appeal to three years in prison, with two years suspended....
Russia is facing growing fuel shortages, with long queues forming at petrol stations from the Baltic region to Siberia as intensified Ukrainian attack...
The leader of Britain's right-wing Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, has announced he will resign as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election that he w...
On 6 July, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on Ukraine, Iran and Venezuela's earthquake crisis.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced on appeal to three years in prison, with two years suspended.
Russia is facing growing fuel shortages, with long queues forming at petrol stations from the Baltic region to Siberia as intensified Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure disrupt fuel supplies across the country.
The leader of Britain's right-wing Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, has announced he will resign as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election that he will contest in a bid to secure a fresh mandate from voters.
Mourners are paying their respects to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as his funeral ceremonies move to Qom in north-central Iran.
The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has risen to 3,342, according to the country's information ministry, as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and survivors face an uncertain recovery.
Mexico's national football team has returned luxury Rolex watches gifted by American content creator Stevewilldoit after concerns that they could conflict with FIFA's ethics rules.
Christian Dior has secured one of fashion's most coveted celebrity endorsements after both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wore custom haute couture designs by creative director Jonathan Anderson for their wedding in New York.
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
Afghanistan's disaster authority says it and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are seeking to expand cooperation on emergency response as the country continues to face floods, earthquakes, drought and the long-term threat from mines and unexploded ordnance.
The Green Climate Fund has approved a $30 million climate adaptation project for Tajikistan to help 73,500 people strengthen food security, protect water resources and build more resilient rural livelihoods.
Two bombs exploded near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron had spent the night, but his office said he did not hear the explosions and was on his way to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the time.
Georgia has confirmed it will retain sole ownership of the long-delayed Anaklia deep-sea port under a "Landlord" model, while inviting international partners to invest in and operate terminals as interest grows from China, Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
Pakistan is seeking fresh Turkish investment after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to deepen economic cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment