Caspian House launched to tackle environmental challenges in region

A new initiative aimed at tackling environmental challenges in the Caspian region has been launched with the establishment of the Caspian House, a platform uniting environmental NGOs from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.

The project, titled The Caspian House: A platform for environmental organisations of the Caspian countries, received financial backing from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and the Agency for State Support of Non-Governmental Organisations, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

It was organized under the auspices of the Public Association “Assistance to the Development of Public Relations”.

The Caspian House project includes several key innovations, such as the creation of a portal and the world’s first virtual environmental museum. Additionally, it presents educational materials including a book titled “From noosphere theory to the principles of sustainable development”, alongside 360-degree videos using VR technology to illustrate the alarming decline in the Caspian Sea’s water levels. A video entitled “Save the Caspian together” sheds light on the pressing environmental problems threatening the Caspian Sea.

The official launch event was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from government and non-governmental organizations, as well as scientists and environmental experts.

The decision to establish The Caspian House Platform for collaborative efforts to safeguard the ecology of the Caspian Sea was officially made at the international conference titled "Caspian Sea and Sustainable Development: Environmental Protection", held in Baku on the sidelines of COP29 last November.

Gulbara Sultanova, Chair of the Civil Society Affairs Committee of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Information, commended the initiative led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), emphasizing its critical role in addressing the environmental issues facing the Caspian Sea.

Nidal Salim, Founder of the Swiss Global Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, underscored the Caspian Sea's significant geostrategic importance, highlighting the global scope of the environmental challenges it faces.

In conclusion, representatives from NGOs in the Caspian littoral countries formally agreed to establish The Caspian House Platform, marking a pivotal step in their collective efforts to protect the ecology of the Caspian Sea.

By Vafa Guliyeva