“The Caspian Sea is a mirror of the global ecosystem,” Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, said at the meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council held in Baku, APA reports.
The head of the IDEA Public Union noted that whenever any activity is discussed, environmental protection must always be a priority.
She stated that the world is going through a historic energy transition period: “Yes, we recognize the important role of natural gas in global energy security. However, our country must move toward cleaner energy. We cannot ignore the damage caused by fossil fuels to air, water, and wildlife.”
Leyla Aliyeva emphasized that every year air pollution claims the lives of millions of people, the vast majority of children breathe toxic air, and a significant portion of the oceans is exposed to pollution as a result of human activity.
The head of IDEA devoted the main part of her speech to the Caspian Sea: “The Caspian Sea is not only a problem for us and the littoral countries. In fact, the Caspian is a mirror of a broader global ecosystem. If the Caspian is in a difficult situation, it means that the global ecosystem is also under threat.”
She added that the year-by-year decline in the level of the Caspian Sea is a serious cause for concern: “But I believe in positive thinking. I am confident that by working together, we can achieve a rise in the Caspian’s level again and prevent it from disappearing like the Aral and Urmia. However, the time to act is now.”
According to Leyla Aliyeva, the fauna of the Caspian Sea is under threat: “Over the past hundred years, the number of Caspian seals has decreased from 1 million to 200,000.”
She noted that the livelihoods of millions of people, ports, and daily economic activities are also affected by this process.
During her speech, Leyla Aliyeva also touched upon the steps taken by Azerbaijan in the direction of “green energy”: “Our country is actively investing in renewable energy projects and aims to become a ‘green energy’ hub.”
Leyla Aliyeva recalled that the IDEA Public Union implements extensive projects both in Azerbaijan and at the international level in the field of environmental protection: “Our projects include the planting of millions of trees, the protection of endangered animal species, and environmental education for young people.”
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