Urgent Action Needed: DOE Unveils Regional Plan to Protect the Caspian Sea

The conservation of the Caspian Sea has become an urgent issue, as highlighted by Sediqeh Torabi, an official from the Department of Environment (DOE). Her call for a regional action plan aims to address the critical challenges facing this vital ecosystem. With the Caspian Sea’s declining health threatening economic stability, ecological balance, and social security for coastal communities, immediate action is essential.

On November 17, during a high-level panel discussion at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, Torabi emphasized the need for collective measures among the five littoral states surrounding the Caspian Sea. “No single coastal country will be able to manage the consequences of the crisis; a collective response is what is needed,” she stated.

The panel, titled ‘Caspian Sea Level Decline: Joint Efforts Toward Preservation and Resilience’, was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the Tehran Convention Secretariat. The event concluded with the adoption of a Declaration, reinforcing the commitment of the participating nations to work together for the preservation of the Caspian Sea.

• Torabi proposed establishing a permanent joint scientific institution dedicated to monitoring, modeling, and forecasting fluctuations in the Caspian Sea’s water levels.
• She highlighted the importance of integrated watershed management and fair water management of rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea.
• The need for collaborative projects aimed at restoring coastal wetlands and creating alternative habitats for endangered species was also discussed.

The significance of this dialogue was underscored by the presence of high-level representatives from other Caspian littoral states, as well as officials from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), UN-Habitat, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The discussions fostered crucial collaboration among these nations and international partners, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the transboundary environmental challenges facing the region.

In her plenary session speech on November 18, Torabi stressed that climate action cannot progress without adequate financing. She pointed out that developing countries, like Iran, require reliable funding to implement effective climate strategies. “Frequent droughts, water scarcity, extreme heat, forest fires, and sand and dust storms have adversely affected Iran,” she remarked, illustrating the real impacts of climate change in one of the world’s driest regions.

Torabi further explained that Iran cannot commit to higher emissions reduction targets without the necessary financial support, technology transfer, and capacity-building measures in place. “Ambition must be matched by the means of implementation,” she asserted, emphasizing the critical need for adaptation strategies in vulnerable communities.

She noted that the indicators for the global adaptation target should be designed to avoid imposing additional reporting burdens on developing nations. Referring to the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respected Capabilities (CBDR-RC) principle, she identified unilateral coercive measures as a significant barrier to advancing climate action. These measures inhibit developing countries’ access to essential financial resources, low-carbon technologies, and opportunities for international cooperation.

Torabi expressed Iran’s readiness for constructive collaboration to achieve a balanced, fair, and credible outcome that promotes adaptation, emission reduction, technology transfer, and capacity-building efforts without politicizing negotiations.

In conclusion, the dialogue surrounding the conservation of the Caspian Sea and the broader implications of climate change underscores the need for a unified approach among the littoral states. The urgency for coordinated action is apparent, as the environmental, economic, and social stakes are high for the communities reliant on this vital ecosystem. The commitment to collaborative efforts, as demonstrated during COP30, is a step toward ensuring the future health and sustainability of the Caspian Sea and the regions that depend on it.