Caspian Sea shrinking; Azerbaijan proposes framework

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is shrinking at an accelerated pace, with water levels falling by about a meter over the last five years. This rapid retreat, attributed to climate change, lower rainfall, higher evaporation, and reduced river flows, makes ports, shipping, fisheries, coastal tourism, and offshore oil and gas infrastructure more vulnerable. Aliagha Azizov, a senior water official from Azerbaijan, announced that a legal framework for regional cooperation among the five bordering countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan) could be established by the end of this year. This framework aims to facilitate monitoring, data exchange, joint scientific research, forecasts, and adaptation measures to address the environmental and economic challenges posed by the shrinking sea.