A round-table discussion was held in Ashgabat on preventing pollution of the Caspian Sea by waste, including plastic litter. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, UNDP, UNEP and the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention as part of a regional project to combat marine litter and plastic in the Caspian Sea.

The project is funded by the Russian Federation.

Participants discussed improving the national waste management system, developing modern environmental standards and enhancing data collection and monitoring methods.

Particular attention was paid to the creation of a waste monitoring programme. This will enable the identification of the main sources of pollution and the assessment of the effectiveness of environmental protection measures.

The initiative also aims to reduce land-based waste inputs into the Caspian Sea, develop regional cooperation and implement the principles of a circular economy.