Azerbaijan’s freshwater reserves down 25% in four decades – official

Azerbaijan’s freshwater reserves have fallen by 25% over the past 40–45 years, the head of the State Water Resources Agency said on Wednesday. Zaur Mikayilov told the Baku Climate Action Week that the Caspian Sea level had dropped by about two metres since the 1980s, while the Kura River had also shrunk.

He said losses in drinking water and irrigation networks remain high, and only a third of the population has access to modern wastewater services.

Mikayilov added that the country’s 2024–2040 national water strategy includes digital reforms such as real-time monitoring, basin-level management and an electronic information system. He said effective water management was vital for food security, energy and public health.