COP29

TAG: GS-2: IR & GS-3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: COP29 will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.

EXPLANATION:

About the Urgency at COP29:

• COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, is an important forum to highlight the Caspian Sea’s plight, where discussions on climate change can incorporate the need for addressing the regional hydrological crisis.
• Delegates must recognize the potential apocalyptic effects on Eurasia and beyond, urging international cooperation to mitigate the effects of climate change on the Caspian.
• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin have discussed the issue, with Aliyev expressing concern over the “catastrophic” shrinkage.
• Potential disruption of regional climate patterns, including India’s Western Disturbances, which are influenced by storms originating from the Caspian.

About Caspian Sea:

• The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest enclosed body of water, situated between Europe and Asia.
• Countries bordering the Caspian include Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.
• The Caspian Sea is endorheic, meaning it has no direct outflow to the world’s oceans.
• The Caspian Sea is threatened by a significant reduction in water levels due to human-induced climate change.
• Up to 25% of its water levels may dry up in the next 20 years, as reported by Iranian officials.

What are the Primary Causes?

• Climate Change: Rising temperatures are causing higher rates of evaporation, especially due to hot, dry winds from Central Asia.
• The Volga River, which contributes over 80% of the Caspian’s inflow, is experiencing a significant decrease in flow due to changes in snowfall and precipitation in its basin.
• Other important rivers flowing into the Caspian include the Ural, Kura, Terek, and Sulak.
• Studies (1938–2020) show a 133 cm drop in Caspian Sea levels due to declining Volga River runoff, which correlates with climate warming.
• Changes in wind patterns also affect the sea level. Eastern winds from Central Asia exacerbate evaporation, whereas northern winds bring moisture and support sea level rise.
• The drying of other regional water bodies such as the Aral Sea (due to Soviet policies) and Lake Urmia (Iran) is a warning for the Caspian.

Source:  

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/as-the-world-converges-on-baku-for-cop29-the-caspian-sea-it-is-located-on-is-threatened-with-catastrophic-shrinkage