Mon, 18/11/2024 - 11:41
COP29: Leaders Unite to Address Caspian Sea Water Level Crisis
At COP29 in Baku, regional leaders and experts came together to confront an alarming reality: the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, is shrinking. Climate change is driving its water levels to plummet, threatening ecosystems, livelihoods, and regional stability.
The side event, “Caspian Sea Water Decline in Light of Climate Change”, held on November 18, was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and the interim Secretariat of the Tehran Convention. It brought together senior officials from the five Caspian littoral states — Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan — along with leading voices from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, and the Green Climate Fund. Keynote addresses delivered by ministers and senior officials underscored the need for enhanced regional cooperation and immediate action to mitigate the crisis.
UNEP presented a working paper during the event, revealing how rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are accelerating the Caspian Sea’s decline. The report, grounded in peer-reviewed science and satellite imagery, highlighted the devastating consequences of this trend, from biodiversity loss to economic and social disruption.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasized the urgent need for bold and ambitious action to address the triple planetary crisis impacting the Caspian Sea — climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Highlighting alarming projections, such as a potential 18-meter drop in water levels by the end of the century, Ms. Andersen stressed that this crisis transcends borders and demands a unified regional response. She reaffirmed UNEP’s commitment to supporting the Tehran Convention as a vital platform for science-based decision-making, transboundary collaboration, and sustainable development, calling on all stakeholders to turn ambition into action at COP29.
The event concluded with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation to Address the Caspian Sea Water Level Decline.
The gathering highlighted the urgent need for regional solidarity and global support to safeguard the future of the Caspian Sea. The outcomes of this event will serve as a cornerstone for developing actionable solutions to protect one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.
