Tehran - On October 15, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Reza Najafi, announced a proposal to establish an international consortium to monitor the rapidly declining water level of the Caspian Sea. The proposal was made during the 6th Caspian Sea littoral states summit held in Tehran.
Speaking at the conference, Najafi emphasized: "The Caspian Sea's water level has dropped by about 25 centimeters per year over the past decade, causing severe impacts on the ecosystem, economy, and lives of coastal residents. We propose the creation of a joint coordination mechanism, called the Caspian Monitoring Consortium, with participation from all five littoral states."
Under the proposal, the consortium would be tasked with collecting hydrological data, tracking climate change, and providing coordinated response recommendations. Iran also offered technical cooperation programs with Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, all signatories to the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest saltwater lake, has shown signs of decline since 1996, particularly acute during 2019-2023 when water levels fell to multi-decade lows. Experts attribute the primary cause to climate change, which has reduced rainfall and increased evaporation in the Volga River basin, the Caspian's main water source.
Delegates from participating countries welcomed Iran's proposal constructively. A Russian official indicated Moscow's readiness to engage in technical dialogue but stressed the need to clarify financial mechanisms and responsibility sharing. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regional office also expressed support for the initiative and offered expert assistance.
The summit is scheduled to run until October 17, with further discussions on water governance, biodiversity conservation, and data-sharing arrangements for water level monitoring. If approved, the monitoring consortium could be established as early as 2024 and become fully operational by 2025.
