Caspian Sea decline raises environmental and economic risks, Babayev says

Falling water levels in the Caspian Sea are increasing environmental, economic and social risks for coastal areas, ecosystems and transport infrastructure, Azerbaijani presidential climate representative Mukhtar Babayev said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform in Baku, Babayev said the decline also threatened the livelihoods of local communities in the region.

He noted that more than 55% of the world’s population currently lives in cities and that the figure could rise to around 70% by 2050.

Babayev said climate migration was becoming an increasingly urgent issue.

According to World Bank forecasts, more than 260 million people could be forced to migrate within their own countries by 2050 due to climate change if sufficient climate and development measures are not taken, he said.

The issue is particularly important for regions facing water shortages and environmental degradation, Babayev added.