Core Insights - The Caspian Sea is facing three major crises: continuous shallowing, environmental pollution, and species collapse [1][2] Environmental Changes - The Caspian Sea, a closed water body, is significantly affected by human activities and climate change, with a warming rate of 0.51 degrees Celsius per decade, compared to the global average of 0.19 degrees Celsius [1] - The sea level has decreased by 2.14 meters from 2006 to 2024, and the area has shrunk from 392,300 square kilometers to 357,900 square kilometers since 2006, a reduction of 34,400 square kilometers [1] Water Quality Issues - Oil extraction has led to water quality pollution, with the Caspian Sea's water quality classified as level 5 or worse, unsuitable for any water use, based on monitoring data since 2019 [1] Species Threats - The report highlights that the winter sea ice area has decreased by 40% over the past 20 years, threatening the endangered Caspian seal, whose population has plummeted from approximately 1.2 million in the early 20th century to less than 100,000 today [2] - Six species of sturgeon are also at risk of extinction due to declining water levels and loss of feeding areas [2]