Caspian Sea water level decline identified as major environmental threat

Somayeh Rafiei, head of the Iranian Parliament's Environment Fraction, has identified the declining water level as the most serious environmental threat facing the Caspian Sea. Speaking at the seventh meeting of the countries committed to the Tehran Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, Rafiei noted that this specific issue is currently not addressed within the convention's framework.

Rafiei attributed the receding water levels to two primary factors: climate change, which has increased evaporation rates, and a significant reduction in inflow. She highlighted that approximately 80 percent of the water entering the Caspian Sea is supplied by upstream countries, and the decrease in this inflow is jeopardizing the sea's survival.

Additionally, Rafiei advocated for the relocation of the Tehran Convention secretariat to one of the countries bordering the Caspian Sea to foster better regional cooperation. She emphasized that while the convention and its protocols are vital for managing pollution and biodiversity, collective effort is required to address the urgent hydrological crisis.