University of Guilan Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences 1735-3033 24 2 2026 04 01 Caspian Sea: Embracing change for a sustainable future.. 641 645 9587 10.22124/cjes.2026.9587 EN Hamid A. K. Lahijani Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran Peygham Ghaffari Akvaplan-niva, Dept. Arctic R&D, Oslo, Norway Abdolmajid Naderi Beni Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2026 05 04 The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, has long experienced significant water-level fluctuations due mainly to natural factors, with additional impacts from human activities. Anthropogenic influences, including land- and sea-based activities, extend beyond the water level changes, severely impacting the Caspian’s delicate ecosystem through pollution and unsustainable resource use. Global warming exacerbates environmental deterioration, which reduces freshwater supply and disrupts basin-wide circulation and vertical mixing, which are crucial for the Caspian bioproductivity. While scholars often focus on the complex ecological dynamics of the Caspian Sea, politicians are more concerned with the visible issue of the water level fluctuations. Although these perspectives are distinct, both overlook the need to address the Caspian’s environmental system as a water body that integrated to the catchment basin. This comment argues that the future of the Caspian Sea lies in adapting intelligently to its natural cycles and prioritizing action on environmental degradation. https://cjes.guilan.ac.ir/article_9587_03c0f89b7d393cdaaba32682b4f97da4.pdf