Baku explores ways to mitigate climate change damage to Caspian Sea ecosystem

Today, November 5, an international conference titled "How to Save the Caspian Sea in the Face of Climate Change?" took place in Baku, coinciding with the upcoming "Year of Solidarity for a Green World" and the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

The event was co-organized by the Georgian organization KELP FARMS and the Azerbaijani Public Association for Sustainable Development, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The conference began with a welcome from moderator Alexey Knizhnikov, a member of the Russian National Committee for the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).

In his opening remarks, Fikret Jafarov, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Public Association, outlined the main goal of the gathering: to inform the scientific community and key stakeholders about the opportunities to mitigate the damage climate change has inflicted on the Caspian Sea's ecosystem. Jafarov emphasized the alarming trend of declining Caspian Sea levels over the past decade, which is expected to persist.

The conference featured discussions on "Restoring the Marine Ecosystem Using Algae: A Pathway to Regional Sustainable Development and Global Climate Solutions."

Konstantin Zgurovsky, Chief Scientific Advisor at KELP FARMS and a PhD in Biology delivered a presentation titled "Key Approaches to Cultivating and Restoring Macrophytic Algae for Global Climate and Regional Ecosystem Challenges." His talk highlighted the potential of seaweed cultivation in restoring biodiversity and contributing to a sustainable economy in the Caspian Sea region.

Olga Lakustova, Director and Co-Founder of KELP FARMS, presented the organization’s strategy for seaweed cultivation. She shared the successful experiences of using sustainable development mechanisms (SDSN) for cultivating Undaria species in the Sea of Japan and a pilot project with Cystoseira species in the Black Sea.

Anastasia Mazneva, a climate project expert, joined the conference via video link to discuss the role of algae in carbon sequestration and its contribution to the fight against climate change.

Andrey Shavnev, Head of ESG at Greenway Global (GwG) and co-founder of KELP FARMS, stressed the importance of algae cultivation for the future of sustainable ecosystems. He noted that algae farming projects represent a promising avenue for fostering a sustainable future for the planet.

During the discussions, participants underscored that climate change is a primary driver of the Caspian Sea's declining water levels. The drop in sea level negatively impacts marine biodiversity and biological productivity, particularly in the vital layers of water where sunlight penetrates to a depth of 5-10 meters. Benthic organisms are unable to migrate to new habitats quickly enough, which results in a decline in biomass and, consequently, fish stocks. In addition to climate-related issues, the Caspian ecosystem also suffers from pollution, poaching, and overfishing, exacerbating the region’s environmental problems.

The conference concluded with discussions on special technologies for cultivating algae and establishing seaweed farms in the coastal zones of the Caspian Sea. These projects, it was argued, could improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, reduce carbon dioxide levels, and support the sustainable development of the marine ecosystem.

Participants emphasized KELP FARMS' experience in implementing similar projects in the Sea of Japan and the Black Sea. The company has proposed creating a pilot seaweed farming project in the Caspian Sea in the lead-up to COP29.

It was also highlighted that the Caspian region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Algae cultivation in the Caspian Sea could not only absorb carbon dioxide but also address pollution issues. As part of these initiatives, the creation of a $500 million Climate Investment Fund for the Future was announced, with the participation of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). KELP FARMS has already submitted a proposal to this fund, advocating for algae projects to be prioritized ahead of the COP29 conference.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, followed by informal discussions over tea.

By Tamilla Hasanova