25/10/2021
RECOMMENDATIONS
of the 5 (25) Session of Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology
of the Caspian Sea

The 5 (25) Session of Coordination Committee on Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea (CASPCOM) was held through videoconference on 25 October 2021. The Session was attended by representatives of the National Hydrometeorological Organizations (NMHSs) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan.
The main activities of the Coordination Committee on Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea in 2019-2021 were as follows:
– progress in the elaboration of CASPCOM organizational documents required to implement Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea;
– the updated CASPCOM data catalogues (sea level, air temperature, water temperature and salinity, regional atmospheric circulation and surface runoff to the Caspian Sea);
– CASPCOM bulletins on the state of the Caspian Sea level containing the assessment of actual and expected seasonal changes of the sea level; – national achievements in the field of hydrometeorology and monitoring of the Caspian Sea, which create a framework for expanding of NMHS’s cooperation and increasing its efficiency;
- organization of the International Scientific Conference “Climate Change in the Caspian Sea Region” to be held on 27-28 October in 2021.

1. Implementation of Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea
At the 5(25) CASPCOM Session, the Parties have considered the implementation of Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea and elaboration of Intergovernmental Integrated Programme on Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea. Having reviewed the draft of the CASPCOM Rules of Procedure, the Session recommends as follows:
- CASPCOM Chairperson is to forward the CASPCOM Rules of Procedure with the modifications agreed at the 5(25) Session to the NMHSs within 1 month after the completion of this Session;
- NMHSs are to prepare comments on and proposals to the draft CASPCOM Rules of Procedure and to forward them to CASPAS Coordinator not later than 3 months before the next, 6(26) CASPCOM Session. In case of no observations by this deadline, the document will be considered as a preliminarily coordinated and will be submitted as it is to the next Session for a further consideration;
- CASPAS Coordinator is to forward a draft document revised in line with the received comments and proposals to the NMHSs one month prior to the 6 (26) CASPCOM Session.
Having reviewed the progress in implementation of the Intergovernmental Programme in the field of Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea, the Parties have concluded that the recommendations by the previous, 4(24) Session, were partly realised for various reasons.
In this respect, the Session recommends anew as follows:
- Not later than 3 months before the next 6 (26) CASPCOM Session NMHSs are to present CASPAS Coordinator with national plans of scientific research in the field of Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea and to prepare proposals on a research project dealing with the regional observation network optimization with a view to improve the forecast quality and promote climatic services in the Caspian region. NMHSs are to submit the proposals to CASPAS Coordinator;
- NMHSs are to present their proposals and materials on the implementation of the mid-term objectives of Intergovernmental Programme at the next CASPCOM Session;
- IRIMO is to provide CASPAS Coordinator with a template for a short-term Action Plan containing quantity target indicators not later than 3 months after 5 (25) CASPCOM session. NHMSs are to present CASPAS Coordinator with their short-term Action Plans in accordance with the template not later than three months before the 6 (26) CASP-COM session.
- NMHSs are to consider the draft layout of the Practical Guidelines on implementation of activities in the field of Caspian Sea hydrometeorology and submit their suggestions and comments to CASPAS Coordinator not later than 3 months after the 6 (26) Session.

2. CASPCOM activities and national activities in the field of hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea
Having appreciated the CASPCOM and the national activities in the field of hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea in 2019 - 2021, as well as the Kazhydromet and Roshydromet efforts in preparing a layout of CASPCOM climatic bulletin, the Session recommends as follows:
- NMHSs, which have gaps in the earlier submitted data for the CASPCOM catalogues, are to submit the missing data within 2 weeks after the completion of the 5 (25) Session;
- CASPAS Coordinator is to provide the CASPCOM members with the updated versions of the Catalogues by e-mail after completing the data sets;
- NMHSs are to provide data for CASPCOM Catalogues in time, no later than 2 months before the next CASPCOM session;
- CASPAS Coordinator is to continue annual updates of CASPCOM Catalogues with the newly submitted data (on sea level, air and water temperature, surface runoff and regional atmospheric circulation, seawater salinity) and to post the updated catalogues on CASPCOM web-site once in two years;
- CASPAS Coordinator is to continue issuing CASPCOM information bulletins on the state of the Caspian Sea level in 2021 and 2022;
- CASPAS Coordinator is to disseminate the layout of the CASPCOM climatic bulletin among the NHMSs within 2 months after the completion of the 5(25) Session;
- NMHSs are to prepare their comments on the layout of the CASPCOM climatic bulletin and submit them to CASPAS Coordinator not later than 3 months before 6 (26) Session of CASPCOM. CASPAS Coordinator is to summarize the comments by NMHSs and to present the summary at the 6(26) Session of CASPCOM;
- CASPAS Coordinator is to prepare an annotated Agenda for the 6 (26) Session and to forward it to the NMHSs no less than a month prior to the Session.

3. CASPCOM cooperation with international organizations
Having taken note of the information on the progress of cooperation between CASP-COM and the Tehran Convention, expressed in the participation of a representative of CASPCOM and specialists of Roshydromet and Kazhydromet in the development of a new version of the Caspian Sea Environmental Monitoring Program, including climate change monitoring, as well as the research project "Urbanization and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caspian Sea region", providing, in particular, assessment of climate change and the hydrological regime of the Caspian Sea, and expressing readiness to continue cooperation with the Convention, the Session recommends as follows:
- CASPCOM is to expand and strengthen operating contacts with the Tehran Convention on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between them in 2013, primarily by participating in the development of relevant sections of the Caspian Sea Environmental Monitoring Program and the project "Urbanization and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caspian Sea region" initiated by the Convention;
- CASPCOM is to authorize the CASPAS Coordinator to represent CASPCOM in negotiations with the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention on the above-mentioned issues of cooperation and to participate in the activities of its working bodies, as well as to request the CASPAS Coordinator to inform the members of CASPCOM about the pro-gress of cooperation during the intersessional period.
Having appreciated the activities of the NMHSs in the organization of the International Scientific Conference “Climate Change in the Caspian Sea region” to be held online under the auspices of CASPCOM and the Tehran Convention on 27-28 October in 2021,
the Session recommends as follows:
- CASPAS Coordinator is to disseminate recommendations and the book of abstracts by the Conference among the NMHSs through e-mail.
Having taken a note of the information on the possible contribution of CASPCOM to UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. the Session recommends as follows:
- CASPAS Coordinator is to register CASPCOM as a partner to UN Decade and to inform the members of CASPCOM about the registration.

4. Date and venue of the next CASPCOM Session
The Session has requested Azhydromet to consider holding the next, 6 (26), Session of CASPCOM in Republic of Azerbaijan in 2022, and to inform NMHSs in 2 weeks after the completion of the 5(25) Session. If agreed, Azhydromet shall inform NMHSs and CASPAS Coordinator on the date and venue of the Session not later than three months before it.

5. Adoption of decisions and recommendations of the 5 (25) CASPCOM session
The Session has adopted the proposed decisions and recommendations.

6. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Agreement, the powers of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of CASPCOM shall be passed to Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, respectively.