Climate Change Threatens Caspian Sea | 03 May 2025

Source: Nature 

The Caspian Sea is rapidly shrinking from climate-driven evaporation, endangering biodiversity, livelihoods, and regional stability. 

• Projected Decline in Water Levels: Even if global warming stays below 2°C, the Caspian Sea is projected to drop 5–10 m, and up to 21 m by 2100 if temperatures rise further. 
• Impacts: 
  • Biodiversity Loss: It threatens endemic species like the Caspian seal (IUCN Endangered) and Beluga sturgeon (an ancient family of large fish, critically endangered). 
  • Industry: Ports like Baku (Azerbaijan), Anzali (Iran), Aktau (Kazakhstan), Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan), and Lagan (Russia) could be stranded inland. 
    • The Volga river, the Caspian’s sole maritime link to the outside world, could become nonviable. 
    • Hydrocarbon production sites like Kashagan (Kazakhstan) and Filanovsky (Russia) will become landlocked. 
  • Public Health Risks: Dry seabeds could release dust contaminated with industrial pollutants and salt, akin to the Aral Sea disaster. 
• About Caspian Sea: It is a tectonic lake and the world's largest inland water body. 
  • Three major rivers Volga, Ural, and Terek empty into the Caspian. 
  • It is bordered by Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.