Congratulations to Bella Pak and Olzhas Aluadin for winning the Shoqan Ecology Forum with their research project on bioremediation of artificial ponds of the "8 Lakes resort" using microalgae.

This project is part of our "Photosynthesis" Project and Training programme.

Visit the Shoqan Ecology Forum's website for more info about one of the Central Asia's best ecology challenge: https://shoqanecology.kz/en/

Caspian Environmental Consortium Ltd. is National-Level Partner of Brilliant Labs / Labos Créatifs since march 2025.

Stand by for details on the Kazakhstani stage of Brilliant Blue Challenge in the near future! 

Visit Brilliant Blue Challenge: https://brilliantblue.org

Yernar Sailybayev: 

I was pleased to participate in a consultation on 23 January 2025 in Astana to identify priorities for the UNDP Kazakhstan - Global Environment Facility Project "Integrated Management of Marine and Coastal Resources of the Kazakhstan part of the #CaspianSea and Adjacent Territories". 

I shared my vision about CaspianCDR project and invited colleagues to discuss the idea of creating “TeamCASPI Climate Innovation Hub” for capacity development, supporting climate actions, biodiversity projects, blue and green economy. 

Yernar Sailybayev: 

On 19 November I spoke at the #OceanPavilion panel session at COP29 Azerbaijan on 'Key Ocean Decade research on Negative Carbon Emissions'. 

The panel session was moderated by Vladimir Ryabinin, former Executive Secretary of the UNESCO Ocean, who was behind the creation of the UN Ocean Decade.

The session was opened by Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Oceans. 

1) Prof Nianzhi Jiao spoke about #GlobalONCE, he was a first responder to our call for collaboration in 2023 and kindly invited me to become a member of the #GlobalONCE Executive Committee.

2) Leonardo Valenzuela Pérez, PhD, spoke about the noble and productive work of Ocean Visions on the five continents of the planet, thanks to him #CaspianCDR became part of the UN Ocean Decade through the #GEOS programme and I was able to participate in COP29 Azerbaijan for the first time, and to meet extraordinary people willing to co-operate and exchange. An amazing cultural experience for me personally!

3) Noa Olenik spoke about Rewind's exciting research in the Black Sea (hello #Pontocaspians!), their work confirms that unconventional and bold ideas and responsible research are the best way forward for climate action.

4) I spoke about the #CaspianHorizons2027 Programme, an extensive initiative of the Caspian Environmental Consortium Ltd. in different and so close areas:

     - #bioremediation of oil-contaminated landscapes and pasture #restoration in the #Caspian region;

      - #CaspianCDR - #CarbonRemoval research, a project inspired and supported by Raffael Jovine, Toby Boatman and the entire Brilliant Planet team;

     - Climate litigation, a highly complex but productive endeavour to mobilize Kazakhstan’s #CivilSociety to protect #biodiversity and the beneficial productivity of agrophytocenoses;

     - Green and Blue Economy educational initiatives including amazing #BrilliantBlueChallenge for highschool students, led by Omar Hussein of Brilliant Labs / Labos Créatifs.

Yernar Sailybayev: 

On November 15, Ocean Visions’ Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions (GEOS) hosting the OceanPavilion event: “Internationalizing mCDR: Collaborative Innovations in Southwestern Africa, the Caspian, and the Black Seas”.

I joined my colleagues at this side event showcasing global efforts to advance marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) through innovative collaborations. 

Together we highlighted key case studies: 

- Rewind’s Black Sea trials (Noa Olenik, Co-founder, CSO);

- Caspian Environmental Consortium Ltd.  and Brilliant Planet’s work in the Caspian Sea;

- Kelp Blue’s mCDR and restoration efforts in Namibia (Fabian Shaanika, Managing Director)

These collaborative initiatives exemplify the power of science-led, cross-border partnerships to scale safe and effective ocean-climate solutions.

The CaspianCDR is supported by Brilliant Labs an Atlantic Canadian-based charity a hands-on, experiential learning platform providing youth with opportunities to develop coding and digital skills.

The CaspianCDR is supported by Raffael Jovine, a British-American scientist who is the inspirer of our project and the author of the marine carbon dioxide technology.

We are extremely happy to be first UNESCO OceanDecade project from land locked country, and the second from Caspian basin.

"The science we need for the ocean we want."

We are excited that our CEO,  Yernar Sailybayev, is one of the volunteer rapporteurs of the Columbia Law School SabinCenter for Climate Change Law.

"The Sabin Center develops legal techniques to fight climate change, trains students and lawyers in their use, and provides up-to-date resources on key topics in climate change law and regulation."

The #CaspianCDR project team has completed the debut phase of #carbondioxideremoval research in the middle eastern #CaspianSea. 

This is the first batch of regular Caspian biodiversity surveys under the project. 

Reconnaissance of 15,000 Ha from land, field studies of socio-economic factors and much more are ahead.