UNEP and UNOPS official Simonetta Siligato calls for unified political commitment and joint monitoring to save the Caspian Sea
The most critical challenge facing the Caspian Sea stems from the cumulative impact of human activity compounded by accelerating climate pressure.
Sea-news.az reports that Simonetta Siligato, representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and multi-country director for the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), made these remarks in a statement to AZERTAC.
She noted that high population density, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and climate change are severely driving down water levels and harming biodiversity across the Caspian basin, alongside escalating water salinity and worsening pollution levels.
“I believe it is imperative for littoral countries to come together for structured dialogue and assume a firm political commitment to act collectively,” Siligato emphasized.
The UN official underscored the vital importance of gathering comprehensive environmental monitoring data on the Caspian and utilizing those metrics for joint planning: “UNEP, within financing frameworks alongside the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is actively collaborating to bring littoral nations together to establish a shared monitoring system. Building unified data databases will ultimately enable the formulation of targeted action plans designed to safeguard the Caspian Sea and its unique biodiversity.”
