illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Le Monde or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland sea, is steadily retreating, with its shoreline visibly receding since 2006
• Kazakhstan, which shares a significant portion of the Caspian's coast, is increasingly concerned about the sea's decline, which mirrors the catastrophic drying of the Aral Sea

🔭 The context: The Caspian Sea's water level has been dropping by 25 centimeters annually, leading to a total reduction of two meters in depth since 2000
• The shrinking sea is leaving behind barren shores and affecting local ecosystems, with Kazakh authorities comparing this crisis to the Aral Sea disaster, where 90% of the sea dried up during the Soviet era

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The drying of the Caspian Sea could have severe ecological and economic consequences, impacting biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities relying on its resources
• The retreating shoreline also highlights broader regional water management and climate change challenges in Central Asia

⏭️ What's next: Kazakh authorities may need to implement urgent water management and conservation strategies to prevent further decline
• International cooperation among Caspian Sea nations could be essential in addressing this environmental crisis and mitigating its impacts

💬 One quote: “The water used to come right up to here,” said Sonia, a local resident of Aktaou, pointing to the receding shoreline

📈 One stat: The Caspian Sea has shrunk by approximately 22,000 square kilometers in the past 18 years, half of which is within Kazakhstan

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change