The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, has been experiencing a significant decline in water levels since 1996, with the situation accelerating since 2006. Recent projections suggest that by 2100, the sea could lose between 9 and 18 meters of water.
In an area near Baku, Azerbaijan, swaying swings now stand as remnants of a once vibrant beach, which has receded 200 meters from its former shoreline. Elana Alizade, a local resident, reminisced about her childhood spent exploring the biodiversity of the region, lamenting, “Now it feels like we are in a different land.”
Traditionally, water levels in the Caspian Sea have fluctuated due to tectonic shifts, but recent declines have drawn concern. With the sea facing acute ecological crises, its fisheries are declining, agriculture is disrupted by increasing salinity, and the critically endangered Caspian seal is threatened with extinction.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief Inger Andersen remarked at COP29 that “this is more than an environmental crisis; it is a human crisis,” warning that without urgent action, up to five million people could be displaced from the Caspian basin by mid-century.
Scientists attribute the rapid water loss to climate change, with rising air temperatures and shifting wind patterns exacerbating evaporation. A reduction in river flow, largely affected by agriculture, population growth, and the construction of over 14,000 dams—including on the Volga River, which supplies 80% of the Caspian’s water—has further complicated the situation.
Elizabeth Sellwood, a senior adviser at UNEP, characterized the Caspian region as indicative of wider global environmental problems faced by its five littoral states. The precarious balance is also influenced by the rich oil and gas reserves beneath the sea, which Azerbaijan relies on for 60% of its government revenue. However, drilling operations have led to pollution and heightened climate change.
At COP29, the nations surrounding the Caspian Sea pledged to collaborate on preserving its resources and addressing climate change impacts, though discussions fell short of tackling the root causes driven by fossil fuel consumption.
As coastal communities grapple with the shrinking shoreline, locals face uncertainty about whether to relocate infrastructure as the water continues to recede, which has also impacted shipping routes.
Sellwood emphasized that while adaptation efforts can provide some relief, “cutting emissions is absolutely essential” for a sustainable future in the region.
Credit: Sky News
