The upcoming COP29 conference in Baku will feature the Caspian Sea's environmental issues as one of its main discussion topics, according to Vugar Karimov, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Report informs.
Speaking to reporters at the Caspian Festival held at Absheron National Park as part of the Caspian Week celebrations for World Ocean Day, Karimov highlighted the alarming decline in the Caspian Sea's water levels over the past two decades. "The Caspian Sea's water level has decreased by 2.5 meters in the last 20 years," he stated.
He noted that Azerbaijan, being one of the countries most affected by this issue, has been actively participating in discussions on various platforms. "While the world ocean's level has risen by 10 centimeters in the last decade, Azerbaijan has experienced the opposite, with a decrease in water resources due to the impacts of climate change, reduced precipitation, and a decline in water transfers to the country," Karimov explained.
The deputy minister added that over the past 30 years, the amount of water transferred to Azerbaijan has decreased, and the country's overall water resources have diminished by more than 15 percent.
Karimov also underlined that the future projections are also concerning, with optimistic estimates suggesting a further 15-20 percent reduction in Azerbaijan's water resources by 2050.
He emphasized that the Caspian Sea's problems will be one of the main topics at the COP29 conference in Baku this November. "Although the main theme will be climate finance, one of the panel topics will be dedicated to the issues of the Caspian Sea. Various proposals will be put forward on steps that should be taken to address the problems of the Caspian Sea. The conference will also discuss adaptation measures if the decline in water levels is deemed inevitable."