A legal framework for regional cooperation to monitor the decline of the Caspian Sea level and adapt to this process may be prepared by the end of this year.
According to sea-news.az this was stated to the Reuters agency by Aliagha Azizov, Deputy Head of the State Service for Control over Water Usage and Protection under the State Water Resources Agency of Azerbaijan (ADSEA).
Aliagha Azizov highlighted several important facts and dangers regarding the ecological crisis in the Caspian Sea. The sea level has fallen by about 1 meter in the last 5 years, 1.5 meters in the last 10 years, and 2.5 meters in the last 30 years. It is currently dropping at a rate of 20-30 centimeters per year, which is many times faster than the rise in global ocean levels. The continuous decline is caused by climate change, reduced rainfall, increased evaporation due to high temperatures, and lower water flow from rivers that feed into the sea. This process is negatively affecting port operations, shipping, fishing, coastal tourism, and oil and gas infrastructure at sea.
Aliagha Azizov emphasized that it is impossible to stop this natural process; therefore, the main goal is to adapt to the current situation. To achieve this, a regional legal framework is expected to be created by the end of this year, which will regulate joint monitoring, information exchange, and scientific research among the five Caspian littoral states (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan).
