The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, is facing an uncertain future due to climate change and human activities. Located between Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, the sea has retreated by around 100 meters in Aktau, Kazakhstan, and is expected to decline further.
According to a study published in Nature magazine, the Caspian Sea level is likely to decline by up to 18 meters (59 feet) and could lose up to 34 percent of its surface by the end of the century.
Adilbek Kozybakov, an ecologist and environmental activist from Aktau, has witnessed the sea’s decline firsthand. “We don’t have to conduct any studies to know that the sea is shrinking. It is visible with the naked eye,” .
Kozybakov’s concerns are echoed by Vadim Ni, an environmental lawyer from Kazakhstan, who argues that the state’s contracts with multinational oil and gas companies have been kept secret, making it impossible to determine their real impact on the environment.
The Caspian Sea’s woes are not driven solely by climate change. Russia’s water management has affected the sea, with the Volga River, Europe’s largest and longest river, contributing 80 to 85 percent of the Caspian water. “Over the years, Russia has built a lot of dams and water reservoirs on the Volga and has used its water for agriculture and industry. As a result, much less water has been flowing into the Caspian Sea,” Kozybakov explained.
The decline of the Caspian Sea has severe implications for the ecosystem and human livelihoods.
Sturgeons, an endangered species due to overfishing and habitat degradation, are particularly vulnerable. “A hundred years ago, the sturgeon would live for many decades, and no one would touch it. It grew to huge sizes which we can see at historical photos. Today, the population of sturgeon has been destroyed by poachers and its environment polluted by oil companies,” Kozybakov lamented.
Ni’s campaign to “Save the Caspian Sea” has led him to sue the government over the secrecy surrounding oil and gas contracts. “Oil companies do not want to reduce their revenues and increase their liability and responsibility for the environment.
While they often conduct environmental research to demonstrate due diligence, there is a reason to question the objectivity and reliability of these results, given their vested interests,” Ni said.
The fight to save the Caspian Sea is gaining momentum, with local communities, civil society groups, and environmental activists joining forces to raise awareness and push for action.
“We want to raise these issues from the bottom to show the government that people are concerned,” Kozybakov said. “Not only ecologists but also average citizens, residents of Aktau who grew up here and who are worried about the future of their children and grandchildren”.