UN Environment Programme reveals that climate change is severely affecting the Caucasus region, with glacier retreat and shrinking freshwater supplies threatening communities
A new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals that climate change is severely affecting the Caucasus region, with glacier retreat and shrinking freshwater supplies threatening communities across Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and parts of Iran, Russia, and Türkiye. Released ahead of the UNFCCC COP29 summit, the report outlines alarming environmental changes and calls for urgent, collaborative solutions to mitigate their impacts.
According to the second Caucasus Environment Outlook (CEO-2), glaciers in the region have receded by an average of 600 meters over the past century. Since 2000, more than 11 billion tonnes of freshwater previously stored in ice have been lost. The decline in glacier and snow cover is already affecting river flows, a key water source for millions, with projections indicating further reductions in available freshwater. River flows across most Caucasus countries are expected to decrease by up to 20% by 2100, and recent data already show substantial declines, such as a 26% drop in Armenia and 20% in Azerbaijan by 2020.
The report warns that average regional temperatures could rise by as much as 3.6°C by the century's end, with mountainous areas seeing the most rapid warming. This intensifying heat is expected to speed up glacier melt, increase flood risks, and further reduce water resources. In August 2023, the village of Shovi in Georgia’s Racha region experienced a deadly mudflow, killing at least 24 people. This disaster, triggered by intense rainfall and glacial melt, highlights the severe, immediate risks posed by climate change in the region.
The UNEP report includes 20 maps visualizing environmental shifts and calls for comprehensive measures to adapt to these changes. UNEP’s Europe Office Director Arnold Kreilhuber emphasized the urgency of reducing emissions globally, noting that the Caucasus report "doesn’t just sound the alarm. It provides valuable guidance to help mitigate climate impacts for people and the environment."
To address these challenges, the report recommends integrating climate adaptation into regional policies, prioritizing environmental considerations in urban planning, and developing transboundary water management plans. Enhanced collaboration on data sharing and monitoring is also highlighted as essential for managing the risks posed by climate change in this ecologically and geopolitically complex region.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Mazen Torki Saud Al-Qadi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan, on 21 J...
Fuel stations in Russian-controlled Crimea stopped selling fuel to individuals and businesses from 9:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, the Russian-install...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the violent attacks in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday, which left five men injured, were motivated by "an...
Britain's Observer newspaper reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday and outline a timetable for his departure. ...
The United States has launched an investigation into Germany's pharmaceutical pricing policies to determine whether they unfairly disadvantage America...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that Israeli settler groups could be added to a global blacklist for violations against children if attacks on Palestinian minors continue at current levels.
UN Women chief Sima Bahous warned the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that peace processes are more fragile and less effective when women are excluded from decision-making, as global conflict levels reach their highest point since the UN was founded.
Germany's failure to secure a United Nations Security Council seat has exposed growing questions about its diplomatic influence and moral authority, highlighting the challenges facing Chancellor Friedrich Merz as he seeks to redefine Berlin's role in an increasingly fragmented world.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed an $800 million contribution from the U.S., saying the funding will strengthen humanitarian operations as global hunger continues to rise.
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
Morocco captain and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi will face trial in France after an appeals court ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southwest of Greece’s island of Crete on Saturday, with no immediate reports of damage.
Paraguay kept their World Cup hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye, but the celebrations were tempered by a costly red card for veteran forward Miguel Almirón.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Mazen Torki Saud Al-Qadi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan, on 21 June.
Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least nine people in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including a child and an Al Jazeera journalist, Palestinian health officials said.
A new film by Swedish filmmaker Mikael Silkeberg traces a cultural journey from Scandinavia to Azerbaijan. The documentary ‘The Homeland in Memory’, available to watch now on AnewZ, looks at how cultural memory in Western Azerbaijan has resisted displacement through its preservation in tradition.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for killing two Syrian soldiers in the northern provine of Aleppo, in a statement on the group's Telegram channel.
At least seven people were killed and several others injured after two roadside bombs exploded in quick succession in northwest Pakistan on Saturday (20 June), according to local police.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment