Tokayev warns of looming ecological disaster in Caspian Sea

Tengrinews.kz – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has raised alarm over the declining water level of the Caspian Sea, warning that without urgent action the region could face a large-scale ecological catastrophe. The statement was made during his annual Address to the Nation.

“The decline of the Caspian is causing serious concern among citizens. If no measures are taken, the situation may worsen, leading to an ecological disaster. At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China, I proposed the creation of an SCO Center for Water Studies to address this issue,” Tokayev said.

The President stressed that the fate of the Caspian is not just a matter for one country but for the entire region, requiring joint efforts. He instructed the government to begin drafting an intergovernmental program to preserve the sea’s water resources in coordination with partner states.

“The future of our children and grandchildren directly depends on how wisely we resolve today’s water problems,” Tokayev noted.

Tokayev also criticized the slow and ineffective implementation of water-saving technologies in Kazakhstan. He urged authorities to attract leading foreign companies and purchase advanced Chinese technologies, calling them “the most cutting-edge in the world”.

“Despite known risks, water-intensive crops are still being cultivated, and there are many cases of irrigation water being taken without permits or contracts,” he said.

The President pointed out that Kazakhstan has relevant positive experience with the Aral Sea.

“We have drawn serious lessons from the Aral tragedy and have been systematically working for over 20 years to restore it. Thanks to this, we managed to preserve the North Aral. The water area has expanded by 36 percent, and the volume nearly doubled, which reduced mineralization levels by half. But efforts to raise the Aral’s water level must continue actively,” Tokayev added.