Saida Safaeva: Scientific research must be expanded to protect Caspian Sea

Scientific studies and research must be expanded and accelerated to protect the Caspian Sea, Saida Safaeva, Head of the Center for Sustainable Development at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), said during the panel session at Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), Report informs.

Safaeva stated that the history of the Aral Sea shows that ecological changes related to water are never limited only to the environment.

"Therefore, climate change in the Caspian Sea must be examined, and the importance of early action, monitoring, and regional cooperation must be ensured. The Aral and Caspian Seas are different water systems, but they are part of the same water dynamics in Central Asia, where climate change, water resource management, desertification, ecosystem degradation, and socio‑economic vulnerabilities intersect," she noted.

The official added that the historical disaster in the Aral Sea also serves as a standard response to the situation in the Caspian and its water degradation.