The UNDP, together with UNEP, the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, held a kick-off workshop to launch the regional project ‘Addressing Marine Litter and Marine Plastics – A Systemic Approach in the Caspian Sea’. This was reported by IIC.

The event was attended by representatives of government agencies, academia and NGOs. The project was officially launched in Turkmenistan and aims to prevent and reduce pollution of the Caspian Sea, primarily from plastic waste.

Participants were presented with the key objectives of the initiative: improving waste management legislation, developing monitoring, preventing pollution and expanding cooperation within the framework of the Tehran Convention. As noted by the UNDP representative, the project provides for a comprehensive approach — from analysing sources of marine litter and updating the regulatory framework to promoting the principles of the circular economy, attracting investment and involving local communities.

The initiative is being implemented with financial support from Russia in Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and is scheduled to run until October 2027. Particular emphasis is placed on reducing land-based sources of pollution and coordinating the actions of the Caspian countries within the framework of existing agreements.