(4 March 2026 | Source: Ulysmedia.kz)
The international environmental movement Save the Caspian Sea, founded on the initiative of Kazakh and foreign environmentalists, has over the past year brought the problem of the Caspian Sea's shallowing onto the international agenda. Activists have filed a lawsuit, initiated a petition, and presented a ten-step programme to save the world's largest enclosed body of water.
HOW THE SAVE THE CASPIAN SEA MOVEMENT CAME ABOUT
As reported by Ulysmedia.kz, the initiative to create the movement came from Almaty-based environmental and climate law lawyer Vadim Ni. He was supported by environmentalists and public figures from Kazakhstan, the USA and Russia.
Among the co-founders are:
- Galina Chernova, director of the environmental association Globus
- Kate Watters, expert from Crude Accountability
- Maria Lobacheva, representative of the public association Echo
The activists stated that they aim to draw the attention of authorities and the public to the degradation of the Caspian Sea.
HOW QUICKLY THE CASPIAN IS SHALLOWING
According to the movement, over the past 30 years, the water level in the Caspian Sea has dropped by approximately 2.5 m.
The rate of decline reaches 20–30 cm per year, and by the end of the 21st century, the water level could drop by a further 18 m.
The declining water level is already affecting the region's economy. In particular:
- port operations in Aktau have become more complicated
- oil companies are carrying out additional dredging work
- fish stocks are decreasing
- the coastline is changing
THE CASPIAN ISSUE RAISED AT PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL
The ecological state of the Caspian Sea was also raised by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
At the SCO+ summit in September 2025, he stated that the situation with the sea was "approaching an environmental catastrophe".
The President proposed:
- creating a SCO Centre for Water Problem Analysis in Astana
- holding the Regional Environmental Summit RES 2026 jointly with the UN
- developing an interstate programme for the conservation of the Caspian's water resources
Later, at a forum in Ashgabat, the President proposed creating an International Water Organisation within the UN structure.
LAWSUIT FOR TRANSPARENCY OF OIL CONTRACTS
In 2025, the movement demanded the disclosure of the environmental conditions of production sharing agreements (PSAs) for the projects:
- Kashagan
- Karachaganak
- Tengiz
The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan refused to provide the information, citing the confidentiality of the contracts.
Following this, Vadim Ni filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court of Astana, but the court of first instance refused to satisfy the claims. Later, the court of appeal upheld the decision.
The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan stated that disclosing the terms could lead to multi-billion dollar lawsuits and worsen the investment climate.
A TEN-STEP PROGRAMME
In August 2025, at High Caspian Week, the movement presented the document "10 Steps to Save the Caspian Sea".
Among the proposed measures are:
- international monitoring of water and pollution
- transparency of environmental and financial reporting
- unified international control standards
- implementation of environmental norms at the national level
- protection of natural areas and rare species
- support for Caspian communities
- participation of local residents in environmental decisions
- strengthening corporate responsibility
- international coordination of actions
- development of environmental education
PETITION AND UNRESOLVED ISSUES
The movement's petition "For open monitoring and international coordination on the Caspian Sea" was supported by more than 50,000 people.
However, according to movement participants, several issues remain unresolved:
- transparency of the environmental conditions in oil contracts
- balance between the oil and gas economy and ecology
- coordination of actions among the five Caspian littoral states
- financing of scientific research
According to Vadim Ni, an important outcome was that the problem of the Caspian's shallowing has become part of the discussion on regional economics, energy policy and climate risks.