Speaking at the Caspian Environmental Summit in Turkmenistan on Friday, Putin said the sea’s water level was declining by an average of nine centimeters annually, posing risks to biodiversity, fisheries and the stability of coastal soils, Anadolu Agency reported.
“Falling water levels have a negative impact on the socio-economic situation in the Caspian region, reduce the investment attractiveness of trans-Caspian logistics corridors, and threaten a decline in the population’s quality of life, job losses, and other acute crises,” Putin said.
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He attributed the decline primarily to climate change and called for greater cooperation among the countries bordering the Caspian Sea to address its environmental consequences.
Putin said Russia was working with regional partners to protect the sea’s ecosystem and supported developing an action plan to address fluctuations in water levels through 2036.
He also backed the establishment of a special commission to investigate the causes of the decline and develop measures to mitigate its impact. Russia is preparing a comprehensive research program on changes in the Caspian Sea’s water levels through 2030, he added.
Moscow has also proposed creating an artificial intelligence-powered digital twin of the Caspian Sea to model water-level changes and improve navigation safety.
Putin emphasized the importance of coordinated action among Caspian littoral states to preserve the sea’s ecosystem, support sustainable economic development and improve living standards across the region.
“Russia has always advocated—and will continue to advocate—for strengthening and developing cooperation among our states in the interests of preserving the Caspian region’s ecosystem, ensuring its sustainable growth, and improving people’s quality of life,” he said.
The summit was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The Caspian Sea, which borders Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, is a vital regional resource for shipping, fisheries and energy transportation. Continued declines in its water levels could create challenges for coastal communities, port operations and transport routes connecting the region to international markets.
