The planet’s largest lake is shrinking fast. Experts fear it may never recover

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is rapidly shrinking, with water levels dropping significantly since the mid-1990s
• The decline has accelerated since 2005, driven by climate change, damming, and water over-extraction
• Experts warn that without urgent action, the sea could follow the path of the near-vanished Aral Sea

🔭 The context: The Caspian Sea, shared by Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, relies on inflow from rivers like the Volga and evaporation rates, both of which are affected by human activities and global warming
• Dams and reservoirs built across the region have reduced water inflows, while rising temperatures increase evaporation
• Predictions indicate water levels could fall by up to 30 meters by 2100 if current trends continue

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The sea's shrinkage threatens unique wildlife, including endangered species like the Caspian seal and sturgeon
• Declining water levels could disrupt regional economies that depend on fishing, tourism, and shipping, while escalating competition over dwindling resources could spark geopolitical conflicts
• The crisis also highlights the broader impact of climate change on inland water bodies worldwide

⏭️ What's next: COP29 in Baku will bring global leaders together to address climate action, with the Caspian's plight looming over the talks
• Countries must take collective action to prevent the sea from suffering the same fate as the Aral Sea
• Efforts should include stronger regulations on water use, international cooperation, and policies to reduce fossil fuel reliance

💬 One quote: “The Caspian Sea may face the fate of the Aral Sea,” warns Azamat Sarsenbayev, a Kazakh eco-activist witnessing the sea's rapid decline

📈 One stat: Since 2005, the Caspian Sea’s water levels have dropped by approximately 5 feet, with projections of a further 26 to 98 feet decline by 2100

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