Baku - On 5 July 2022, the hybrid international conference on the topic "Caspian Sea level fluctuations, forecasting, and adaptation measures in the face of climate change" has been organized by the Azerbaijani Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry with the support of the United Nations Development Program.

Experts from Caspian countries, representatives of international organizations, and foreign experts were participating in the conference to discuss fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea.

Issues of strengthening collaboration for defining national and regional adaptation strategies were being discussed during the conference, taking into account present and predicted Caspian Sea level changes, as well as climate and level projections.

The presentation on the programme proposal on Urbanization and Climate Change Adaptation in the Caspian Sea Region made by Vladimir Gjorgjiev, the Chief of IOM Mission to Azerbaijan aroused the interest of the participants. During his presentation he noted that the programme proposal and presentation is being co-developed by UN-Habitat, UNEP and IOM MECC for the Adaptation Fund will focus on addressing adverse impacts of sea level fluctuation, increased flooding, more intense droughts and rising temperature. The programme will have regional, national, local and up-scaling components.

Talking about national component of the programme proposal Vladimir Gjorgjiev said that it will strengthen national and local level capacities in Azerbaijan to develop policies, plans and measures to address climate change and disaster related risks and impacts for greater local community resilience especially to sea-level fluctuation, droughts, heat waves, and floods, and their links to migration.

At the local level a project will focus on establishing an early warning system for salinization, droughts and flooding in Neftchala, establishing an early warning system for salinization, droughts and flooding will be main aim of the project in Baku, and a water security and management through rainwater harvesting and integrated water management planning will be third part of the local component of the project.

During the conference the participants also exchanged views about the research conducted on the increase in climate change rates over the previous decade and the future fluctuations.

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