As world leaders gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29, the impact of climate change can be seen up close. The Caspian sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, which forms Baku’s shoreline, is shrinking. Local experts say climate change is partly to blame for its levels dropping by three meters since 1995.

The next major United Nations meeting on climate change, known as COP29, is about to get underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. These annual meetings are the key international summits as the world attempts to address the unfolding climate crisis.