President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the Caspian Ecological Summit. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Tokayev noted the strategic importance of the Caspian Sea for the region's population and described today's meeting as historic.
"The Caspian is a unique natural treasure, a source of life for millions of people, and the main transport and energy hub of the entire Eurasian continent. Therefore, our states must be primarily interested in preserving the sea's ecosystem," the President said.
In this regard, he endorsed the view of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who assessed the situation not only as an ecological crisis but as an economic condition with very dangerous consequences.
"If prompt and bold measures are not taken now, the ecological situation could deteriorate sharply," Tokayev said.
The President noted that this would affect not only the population of the countries located around the Caspian but also the global community.
"From 2000 to 2025, the area of the receded sea exceeded 16,000 square kilometers. In certain sections, the water has retreated tens of kilometers from the shore. The reduction of river flow into the Caspian, climate warming, and growing anthropogenic pressure are having an extremely negative impact on the fragile natural system and the sea's biodiversity, causing enormous damage. The condition of Caspian seals is of serious concern. Over the past century, their number has declined from 1 million to 270,000," the Head of State said.