Baku: As part of the international event dedicated to World Environment Day (WED), hosted by Azerbaijan, a panel session titled 'The Caspian Sea at a Crossroads: Science-Policy Dialogue on Sea Level Decline and Regional Action' was held, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev, speaking at the event, stated that the decline in the Caspian Sea's water level is a matter of serious concern. He emphasized the importance of enhancing scientific research, observations, and data exchange, alongside expanding cooperation among the Caspian littoral states.

Experts highlighted that the primary causes of the Caspian Sea's water level decline are reduced river inflow, rising temperatures, and increased evaporation. A continuous decline in sea level has been observed since 1995.

Simon Goodman, a representative of the University of Leeds, warned that even under the most optimistic scenarios, the Caspian Sea level could drop by 5-8 meters, resulting in substantial losses to important ecosystems and ecologically significant areas.

Robb Butler, the World Health Organization's Special Representative for Climate and Health, pointed out the lack of sufficient data on the impact of the declining sea level on human health and noted that assessment efforts have been initiated in Azerbaijan.

Representatives from Russia and Azerbaijan underscored the necessity of studying the causes of changes in the Caspian Sea's water level and improving monitoring and data systems. The panel session continued with further discussions.