Director-General's remarks at the High-Level discussion on Strengthening Environmental Governance and International Cooperation for the Protection of the Caspian Sea

Strengthening Environmental Governance and International Cooperation
for the Protection of the Caspian Sea

Friday, 30 January 2026 at 3.00 p.m. 
Room XIV, Palais des Nations

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you today to the Palais des Nations for this high-level discussion dedicated to the future of the Caspian Sea, a shared natural treasure of global environmental significance. I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan and all its partners for bringing us together in Geneva for this timely and important dialogue. Azerbaijan’s role in supporting global cooperation on climate and environmental issues is very important, and we all remember COP29 in Baku in 2024.

We meet at a moment when environmental challenges are becoming more complex, more interconnected, and more urgent. The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest enclosed inland water body, is a powerful example of this reality. It hosts unique ecosystems, including no fewer than nine wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention —such as the Anzali Wetland in Iran, the Turkmenbashy Bay in Turkmenistan or the Ural River Delta in Kazakhstan.

The Caspian Sea supports endemic species, sustains livelihoods, fosters economic development across the region, and plays a strategic role in energy, transport, and food security. Yet, it is under growing pressure from pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change, and the alarming decline in sea level. These challenges do not stop at national borders, and neither can the solutions.

This is precisely why Geneva is an appropriate location for your discussions. Geneva is a global hub for environmental governance, diplomacy, and international cooperation. Here, science meets policy, regional realities meet global frameworks, and diverse actors come together to turn dialogue into action.

For decades, Geneva has been at the forefront of shaping international responses to shared environmental challenges. Home to a plethora of United Nations entities, international organizations, scientific institutions, and civil society actors, it offers a unique ecosystem for cooperation. Issues such as transboundary water governance, marine protection, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation are debated, negotiated, and advanced here through inclusive and multi-stakeholder processes.

The discussions you are holding today are part of this broader multilateral effort. By focusing on the Caspian Sea, you are highlighting the importance of regional environmental governance anchored in international cooperation. Geneva provides the neutral space where these efforts can be strengthened, connected, and amplified.

The Caspian Sea reminds us that environmental sustainability, peace, and development are deeply interlinked. Protecting this shared sea requires coordinated action, robust science–policy integration, and innovative partnerships that bridge governments, scientists, international organizations, and civil society. The United Nations Office at Geneva plays a central role in enabling these connections and fostering trust among actors who may otherwise struggle to find common ground.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Multilateralism today is being tested by geopolitical tensions, climate impacts, and growing demands on natural resources. Yet the very existence of gatherings like this one is proof that cooperation remains not only possible, but indispensable. Geneva stands as a living laboratory of multilateralism, where complex challenges can be addressed collectively, through dialogue, evidence, and shared responsibility.

I encourage all participants to use this opportunity to exchange perspectives openly, to listen to one another, and to explore concrete pathways for cooperation. The future of the Caspian Sea depends not on isolated actions, but on sustained collaboration across borders and sectors. What begins as dialogue here can translate into policies, partnerships, and practices that make a real difference on the ground.

In closing, let me reaffirm the commitment of the United Nations Office at Geneva to supporting environmental diplomacy and cooperative solutions. By working together, and by using Geneva as a platform for inclusive and science-based dialogue, we can help ensure that the Caspian Sea remains a source of life, stability, and shared prosperity for generations to come.

I wish you fruitful discussions and meaningful exchanges.

Thank you.