Azerbaijan’s PM calls for urgent action to protect Caspian Sea environment

Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov has highlighted growing environmental concerns in the Caspian Sea, warning that prolonged human activity is exacerbating pollution in Baku Bay.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Asadov pointed to the deteriorating state of Soviet-era hydraulic infrastructure, decommissioned or abandoned oil wells, jetties, bridges, and platforms in Azerbaijan’s portion of the Caspian as major contributors to environmental degradation, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

He cited ageing structures, corrosion, and the impact of hydrometeorological factors as key challenges.

The Cabinet session focused on implementing a comprehensive plan for 2025–2030 aimed at upgrading infrastructure across the Caspian Sea and improving the ecological condition of Baku Bay.

The Prime Minister stressed that urgent measures are needed to mitigate the environmental impact and protect the coastal ecosystem.

The Caspian Sea, Earth’s largest inland water body, is shrinking at alarming rates, with scientists warning water levels could drop up to 21 meters by 2100. Nearly 15 million people along its coast—across Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan—face economic and ecological impacts.

Over the past two decades, the sea lost more than 34,000 sq km. NASA data show a current drop of nearly 7 cm per year, 20 times faster than global oceans. Warming and reduced river inflow are the main drivers. The northern Caspian, where depths are under five meters, may disappear by 2050.

Decades of pollution, overfishing, poaching, and invasive species have pushed its unique ecosystem to the brink. Endemic species, including the Caspian seal, face habitat loss, toxins, and mass die-offs. The seal—apex predator and ecological indicator—remains endangered despite protective measures, including Kazakhstan’s new Caspian Seal Reserve.

Experts stress that regional cooperation is critical. A network of transboundary protected areas could help monitor biodiversity, protect habitats, and mitigate the impact of the sea’s ongoing decline. Even with global climate action, some level of water loss seems inevitable.

By Aghakazim Guliyev