The Caspian Environmental Program (CEP) is developed by the Governments of the five Caspian countries to solve common ecological problems with participation of international organizations (GEF, UNDP, UNEP, World Bank, TACIS). Within the framework of this Program countries carry out the activities at national and regional levels.
       The purpose of CEP is to maintain sustainable development and rational management of the Caspian region environment.
       The priority of actions within the framework of CEP is aimed at:
·        to provide sustainable living for population and economic activity under conditions of the Caspian sea level fluctuations;
·        pollution liquidation and improvement of environment quality and biodiversity conservation;
·        Improvement and restoration of the Caspian sea ecosystems and biodiversity conservation; 
·        to ensure ecological safety in the region and preservation of environment quality for sustainable human development.

      The basic stages of CEP formation 
At the end of 80s Caspian states were anxious with the search of urgent ecological problems related to environment pollution and reduction of fishing (sturgeon) that were worsened by the rise of the sea level.
Early 90s - international organizations showed interest to questions of formation of interstate and international cooperation in the solution of ecological problems of the Caspian sea.                                                                                                                                                     
1993. - Minsk. Assistance of the UNDP, UNEP and World Bank Joint mission to the countries of CIS in preparation of base legal tools for protection of Caspian environment " Basic elements of the Framework convention on protection of the Caspian sea environment ".
1994 (May). Almaty.  Conference of Caspian countries. Establishment of Regional committee on rational operation and preservation of Caspian bioresources.
1995 (April). WB/UNDP/UNEP Joint mission to Caspian sea. Development of the Caspian sea Ecological program. The coordination of the program components among WB/UNDP/UNEP and EU TACIS executing agencies.
1995 (December), 1996 (November) - Geneva. UNEP conference. Discussion of the legal status and development of base elements of the Framework convention on protection of  the Caspian sea environment.
1997 (May) - Istanbul. A regional conference on Caspian sea environment.
1997 (July) - Beginning of preparation of the UNDP/GEF proposal on Caspian sea. The first stage of the Kazakhstan NEAP is completed -  it is important element of the Strategic action program.
1997 - decision of Caspian countries and international partners to create Steering Committee. 1998 (March) – Ramsar city (Iran). Commencement of GEF Caspian project. Planning, organization and improvement of the office structures and continuation of legal questions.
1998 (June - July) - Baku. PCU Organization, beginning of the TACIS project implementation.