Declining Water Levels in the Caspian Sea: Environmental and Humanitarian Crisis Looms

Caspian Sea Water Level Decline

The water level in the Caspian Sea has fluctuated over time, but it has steadily decreased in the last 30 years. Experts believe this trend will continue. At the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UN Environment Programme reported that the water level could drop by up to 18 meters by 2100.

Potential Consequences

Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme, stated that this situation poses serious risks. She highlighted that it is more than an environmental crisis; it is a human crisis. A decline in water levels could destroy ecosystems, threaten livelihoods, and impact food security and stability in the region.

Causes of the Decline

The visible effects of the declining water level are already present. A recent report by the UN Environment Programme indicates that more research is needed to understand the reasons behind this decline. The report cites many human activities and climate change as key factors. More than 40,000 dams regulate river flows to the Caspian Sea, and evaporation rates are likely influenced by climate change.

Elizabeth Sellwood, a senior advisor at the UN Environment Programme, noted that the situation reflects broader global environmental issues, affecting five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. These countries extract oil and natural gas from the sea, which pollutes the water and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Agreement on Action

At the climate conference, the five countries agreed on a statement reaffirming their commitment to the Tehran Convention. This agreement aims to protect the environment of the Caspian Sea and limit pollution while restoring the marine ecosystem. All five countries signed the convention in 2003, which began to take effect three years later.

Despite the agreement, representatives at the climate conference did not discuss actions related to one major cause of the water decline: fossil fuel extraction. Sellwood emphasized the importance of reducing emissions to address environmental issues effectively.