The drying up of the Caspian coastline, specifically within its Russian segment, has amounted to 20,000 square kilometers over the past 20 years, Russian’s president Vladimir Putin stated.
He noted that if current trends in sea-level change persist, they could lead to a range of detrimental environmental consequences.
The head of state linked the ongoing recession of the sea to a decline in biological resources, damage to the fishing industry, and soil erosion in the coastal zone. Lower water levels also hinder the development of Trans-Caspian transport routes and reduce their investment appeal.
Putin identified climate change as the primary cause of the receding water levels, citing research by both Russian and international experts. Rising temperatures affect evaporation, precipitation, and river inflow. The Russian President also highlighted changes in air currents as a contributing factor: the influx of hot, dry air from Central Asia accelerates water loss.
Russia proposes utilizing the mechanisms of the Tehran Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea to facilitate collaborative efforts. Moscow supports the development of a dedicated monitoring protocol designed to streamline the exchange of data regarding the receding water levels and other environmental risks.
Putin also backed a proposal by Turkmenistan to establish a commission tasked with investigating the causes of the sea-level drop and formulating measures to mitigate its negative impacts.
A separate proposal from Russia involves creating a "digital twin" of the Caspian Sea. This AI-driven virtual model would account for evaporation, precipitation, and river runoff, enabling the simulation of various sea-level change scenarios. According to the President, the model could also be used to refine navigation routes.
The Russian government is currently preparing a comprehensive program to study Caspian Sea level fluctuations and minimize their consequences through 2030. Russia intends to share the research results with other Caspian states, the online portal nia.eco reports.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
