Baku Hosts International Caspian Sea Conference at Initiative of Leyla Aliyeva
Baku, The Gulf Observer: An international conference titled “Caspian Sea Tipping Point: Transition from COP29 and UNOC 2025 Outcomes to Action on COP30” was held at the Baku Convention Center on October 2–3, at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.
The opening session brought together high-level officials and international experts, including COP29 President and Presidential Representative on Climate Issues Mukhtar Babayev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev, Great Whale Conservancy Co-Founder and Executive Director Michael Fishbach, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Center under the Ministry of Agriculture Jeyhun Aliyev, Baku International Sea Trade Port Chief Operating Officer Eugene Seah, and UNEP GRID-Geneva Director Pascal Peduzzi, who joined online.
Speakers highlighted the growing challenges facing the world’s largest inland water body, including sea level decline, depletion of bio-resources, coastal ecosystem degradation, and pollution. They stressed that these issues cannot be solved by individual states alone but require collective international strategies and cooperation. The participants further underlined the importance of translating the outcomes of Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency into practical measures to advance global climate action.
The conference continued with thematic sessions featuring representatives from the COP29 Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, and scientific and research institutions from around the world. Discussions focused on regional collaboration in Caspian Sea protection, sustainable water resources management, and enhancing international coordination. Experts emphasized the critical role of international scientific partnerships in tackling pressing environmental challenges.
Co-organized by IDEA and the Caspisnet Scientific Network, the gathering brought together scientists and specialists from more than 10 countries in fields such as marine ecology, aquaculture, hydrology, and geographic information systems. Deliberations addressed Caspian Sea level fluctuations, biodiversity protection, ecological balance, and the development of joint solutions.
The program also includes a field tour to Absheron National Park, offering participants an opportunity to observe firsthand the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea and its surrounding ecosystems.
The conference underscored Baku’s growing role as a hub for international dialogue on climate action and environmental sustainability ahead of COP30.
