Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation

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Environment and Security

Industrial activity, pollution, extraction of valuable raw materials and natural resources (oil, gas, uranium, but also commercial fish stocks such as sturgeon) can cause environmental degradation and in their most severe forms loss of livelihood (as with the collapse of fisheries or the flooding of cropland). The exploitation of essential natural mineral resources, available in large quantities, attracts considerable economic and political interest. But in such situations environmental protection may often be a low priority. Furthermore extreme natural events and global changes exacerbate anthropogenic activity. Subsequently climate change, natural hazards, migration of alien species and epidemics stress the ecosystem, with the risk of damaging ecological security and the living environment.

Environmental consequences of oil and gas development Environmental degradation and security

Of all the economic activities in the eastern Caspian region, oil and gas exploration and extraction are probably causing the greatest concern among the local population and au- thorities regarding the current and future en- vironmental situation and potential risks. The problems related to poor environmental prac- tice in the past, as well as several mass fish and seal die-offs in recent years, have been on the agenda of governments, experts, mass media and public organisations addressing the energy sector’s present and future. Lack of knowledge about the actual state of marine ecosystems and their vulnerability to pollution, coupled with inadequate environ- mental monitoring, also fuel concern and uncertainty for the future. During the Soviet period, oil and gas develop- ment in the region was often conducted using environmentally unsound practices and out- dated technologies. Many cases of pollution

of sea water, air and soil in the Caspian region have been reported. An area covering asmuch as half a million hectares is now affected by desertification, soil compaction and pollution due to oil extraction and transportation activi- ties (CEP 2006 b). Severe land degradation, caused by lakes of oil waste and spills, affect up to 5 000 hectares in Atyrau and Mangys- tau provinces (CEP 2006 b; NESSD 2006; Akhmetov 2006; Ministry of Environment Pro- tection of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2007). Information about land pollution in Turkmeni- stan is limited, but according to data collected during field missions, severe land degradation may affect as much as 1 000 ha. After independence the region saw a drop in pollution levels, partly due to declining economic activity and partly due to the in- troduction of better environmental practice and cleaner technology. However increas- ing oil prospecting and production, on land and sea, the expanding pipeline networks