Climate change has had serious consequences in six countries of the Caucasus because it has caused the retreat of glaciers and the reduction of river flows, according to a new report by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) published before the start of the COP29 conference.
The report, entitled Caucasus Environment Outlook (CEO-2), focuses on the Caucasus region, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, as well as parts of Iran, Russia and Turkey.
This document reveals that glaciers have retreated an average of 600 meters over the past century, and since 2000 more than 11 billion tons of fresh water, previously stored in ice, have been lost. Water is becoming an increasingly unevenly distributed resource in the countries of the Caucasus, so groundwater withdrawal in Armenia has doubled since 2000, while in Azerbaijan it has increased by as much as 400 percent.
The report predicts that by the end of the century, the river flows in this region will drop by about 20 percent. Moreover, between 2000 and 2020, the annual flow of the Kura River, which flows through Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, was reduced by 20 percent. With reduced snow and glacier cover in mountainous regions, the report predicts further declines in fresh water supplies and calls for cross-border data sharing and innovative mitigation solutions.
Also, according to estimates by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), average temperatures in the region could rise by about 3.6°C by the end of the century compared to the 1970-2000 baseline. year. The Caucasus region is facing increased heat waves, while the number of extremely hot days in Azerbaijan is increasing significantly – Baku recorded 365 days with temperatures above 35°C between 1991 and 2020, compared to 86 days during the period 1960–1990.
The rise in temperature will hit mountain regions hardest, where the melting of glaciers already poses a serious threat of flooding. The consequences of climate change were felt in August 2023, when a devastating mudslide, caused by intense rainfall and melting ice, claimed at least 24 lives in Georgia.
In addition, soil erosion, exacerbated by heavy rains and unsustainable practices, is reducing arable land, especially in Turkey, where 71 percent of agricultural land and 59 percent of pastureland are affected.
Despite the challenges, the UNEP report points to the potential for progress through renewable energy sources and the expansion of protected areas. Azerbaijan now protects over nine percent of its territory, while Georgia’s protected area has grown to almost 11 percent.
The authors of the report add that climate change and adaptation measures should be integrated into policies and legislation, which requires strong political support. Urban planning should also take into account the environment to a greater extent, as well as draw up transboundary watershed management plans.
Energy portal
Source: energetskiportal.rs
