PAST EVENT: The Depleting Water Levels of the Caspian Sea – Why the Choice to Hold COP29 in Baku is So Pertinent

The European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) had the pleasure of organising the Conference “The Depleting Water Levels of the Caspian Sea: Why the Choice to Hold COP29 in Baku is So Pertinent”, held on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at the European Institute for Asian Studies, rue de la Loi 26, 10th floor, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium.

Date:  Wednesday 11 September 2024
Time: 16:00-18:00
Venue:  EIAS Brussels

“The Depleting Water Levels of the Caspian Sea: Why the Choice to Hold COP29 in Baku is So Pertinent”

The choice to hold the Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled from 11 to 22 November 2024, is so pertinent, as it could be a crucial catalyst for the states of the Greater Caspian Region in addressing the challenges of the depleting water levels of the Caspian Sea. It offers a key opportunity to gain international support and develop a unified strategy to address the ecological threats facing the region. Protecting the Caspian Sea’s ecosystem and depleting water levels by ensuring a sustainable future for all littoral nations will require concerted collaboration and support from the global community. Baku’s COP29 hosting underscores the economic and political consequences of the Caspian Sea drying up, emphasising the urgency of addressing these threats. The combined impacts of evaporation from dams, climate change, and increased water extraction are destabilising the Caspian Sea level, threatening ecosystems, economies, and local livelihoods. Effective solutions demand a comprehensive and coordinated approach among the Caspian littoral countries, a challenging task given the political, economic and social differences in the region. The EU could leverage its expertise to assist Azerbaijan and the other littoral countries in addressing this critical environmental situation before it becomes irreversible, unless we want the Caspian Sea to suffer a fate similar to the Aral Sea. The drastic shrinkage of such a significant body of water would have severe environmental, economic, and social consequences. By leveraging its knowledge and resources, the EU could support the implementation of sustainable solutions to preserve the Caspian Sea, including capacity building efforts, offering guidance on legislative drafting and promoting alignment with international standards like the Caspian Sea Legal Status Convention as well as financial assistance directed towards sustainable development projects.

Programme

15:30 – 16:00 Registration and Welcome Coffee

16:00 – 16:10 Welcome Address

• Axel Goethals – CEO, European Institute for Asian Studies – EIAS

16:10 – 16:25 Keynote address

• Camilla Brückner – Director, UNDP Office Brussels

16:25 – 17:25 Panel Discussion

• H.E. Sapar Palvanov – Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium and to the European Union 
• H.E. Vaqif Sadiqov – Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium and to the European Union
• Sarah Rinaldi – Head of Unit for the Middle East and Central Asia, Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission

  The Panel discussion was followed by an interactive Q&A session between the panellists and the audience

Moderator: Axel Goethals – CEO, European Institute for Asian Studies

17:25 – 17:30 Closing Remarks

17:30 – 19:00 Networking Reception 

The conference took place under Chatham House Rules and was followed by a networking reception. 

Related Articles and Further Reading:

The Depleting Water Levels of the Caspian Sea: Why the Choice to Hold COP29 in Baku is So Pertinent

The Road to COP29: Potentials for the Greater Caspian Region and the Middle Corridor

Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons