In a special panel on the effects of climate change on the Caspian Sea, Shina Ansari, Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, highlighted the severe environmental toll that climate change is having on this crucial water body and on Iran’s resources. Speaking at the invitation of Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, Ansari joined environment ministers from across the region and beyond to discuss shared environmental challenges and strategies for adaptation.

Ansari noted that strengthening cooperation and establishing measures under the Tehran Convention are essential to mitigate climate impacts and monitor Caspian Sea levels. “To reduce potential risks and improve resilience, it is vital to enhance regional collaboration under the Tehran Convention, focusing on climate adaptation and sustained monitoring of Caspian Sea levels,” she said.

Ansari also underscored the importance of aligning all new initiatives related to the Caspian Sea within the Tehran Convention framework to avoid unnecessary duplication.

“We are confident,” she concluded, “that the practices and lessons developed under the Tehran Convention will serve as invaluable guides for respecting the sovereignty of coastal nations, bolstering regional cooperation—especially in scientific research and environmental assessment—and advancing our collective efforts to sustain the Caspian Sea for the resilience of our communities and economies.”