Azerbaijan warns of mounting impacts from Caspian Sea level decline

The decline in the Caspian Sea's water level is no longer a possible future scenario but a reality already being observed today, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev said.

According to Report's Türkiye bureau, he made the remarks at a preparatory meeting in Trabzon held ahead of COP31, which will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November this year.

Hajiyev said he believed the discussions would contribute to strengthening the resilience of major water bodies such as the Caspian Sea, as well as developing practical cooperation and adaptation approaches that could be implemented at different regional levels.

"Monitoring the environmental system of the Caspian Sea, gaining a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of changes in its water level, assessing future water-level scenarios and exploring practical ways to adapt to these changes are among Azerbaijan's key priorities. Climate, oceans and the blue economy are an important part of the global agenda. Although Azerbaijan has no direct access to the world ocean, as an independent country on the Caspian Sea it is ready to contribute its experience and perspectives to these discussions," he said.

The deputy minister recalled that the Caspian Sea is not only a unique ecosystem for the region but also a shared body of water of major environmental, social and economic importance.

"The Caspian is currently facing increasing pressure from climate change and other anthropogenic factors. The continuous decline in the Caspian Sea's water level over the past decade is no longer a possible future scenario; it is a reality we are witnessing today," Hajiyev said.

He stressed that the falling water level is causing serious environmental consequences, including the retreat of shorelines, changes to coastal areas and ecosystems, and the shrinking of habitats for biodiversity and valuable species, including the Caspian seal and sturgeon.

"The impacts of this process are not limited to environmental problems. The shallowing of the Caspian Sea could also have a severe impact on coastal communities, infrastructure and transport systems, port operations and other economic activities. There is a need to strengthen the exchange of scientific knowledge in this area," he said.

Hajiyev noted that ensuring the environmental resilience of the Caspian Sea and mitigating the impacts of climate change is not an issue for individual oceans, countries, coastlines or regions alone, but requires interstate regional cooperation.

"To respond to these challenges, we first need to further strengthen the links between scientific knowledge, policy and decision-making. Climate resilience and ecosystem protection should not be considered separately from economic development, but as an integral part of it," he added.