C1 – Renewable freshwater resources in the Republic of Azerbaijan

Are the renewable freshwater resources sustainable in the Republic of Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is one of the countries facing severe water stress conditions, with an average annual water exploitation index higher than 30.5 %. The water exploitation index was estimated to be 41.2 % in 2017 (See C2 indicator for further information). In addition, overall the natural water balance of Azerbaijan is heavily dependent on external inflow from upstream basins. The country dependency ratio on upstream water is around 71 % on an annual scale. As a result of climate conditions, effective precipitation accounts for only 25 % of the total precipitation that constitutes the main part of the internal flow. Nevertheless, the annual total renewable freshwater resources is around 38 070 million m3. On the other hand, since 2000, it is estimated that there has been a substantial decrease in renewable freshwater resources, from 36 692.4 million m3 down to 29 423.4 million m3 in 2017.

Kura and Aras are large rivers flowing into Azerbaijan that play a significant role in the overall water balance of the country. In addition, Azerbaijan boasts 63 reservoirs, of which only four have a volume larger than 1 000 million m3. The Mingechevir reservoir on the Kura river is the largest, with a capacity of 15 700 million m3, from which water is used for power generation and for irrigation, whereas the Samur river plays an important role in terms of drinking water supply and irrigation in north-eastern Azerbaijan and the Absheron peninsula, via the Samur-Absheron channel (UNECE, 2011).

It should be noted that due to highly variable climate conditions, renewable freshwater resources vary significantly over the years. The magnitute of variation in renewable freshwater resoures is 23 % above or below the annual average. This high variation exposes uncertainities and risks in managing the water resources across the country. A record level of renewable water resources occurred in 2003 with 46 882.1 million m3, while the lowest availability of water resources was in 2017 with 29 423.4 million m3.

The population of Azerbaijan was 9.8 million in 2017. The population increased by 22 % between 2000 and 2017. In parallel, the demand for water abstraction also increased by 15 %, while renewable freshwater resources have decreased by 20 % during the same period. This has resulted in a substantial decrease in renewable freshwater available per capita annually, from 4 567.8 m3/capita per year in 2000 down to 2 999.3 m3/capita per year in 2017. Long-term severe water scarcity conditions in the country is a warning that there is a need to improve water efficiency in the near future.

Indicator specification

Indicator definition

This indicator covers the main components needed to assess the renewable freshwater resources and their availability in a country. Renewable freshwater (surface and groundwater) resources are replenished by precipitation (less evapotranspiration), which ends up as run-off to rivers and recharge to aquifers (internal flow), and by surface waters and groundwater flowing in from neighbouring countries (external inflow or inflow from upstream areas). The indicator also includes the outflow of surface water and groundwater to neighbouring countries and to the sea.

Units

Million cubic metres (million m3) per year.

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Renewable freshwater resources are of major environmental and economic importance. Their distribution varies widely among and within countries. Pressures on freshwater resources are exerted by overexploitation and by degradation of environmental quality. Relating renewable freshwater resources to freshwater abstraction is a central issue in ensuring sustainable freshwater.

The indicator provides a measure of the state of renewable freshwater resources in a country and of its change over time.

 

Scientific references

• UNECE, 2011. Azerbaijan –Second Environmental Performance Review, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 31, e-ISBN 978-92-1-117035-1, New York and Geneva.
• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Description of C1. Renewable freshwater resources.
• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Glossary of terms – C1. Renewable freshwater resources.
• UNSD, 2012. International Recommendations for Water Statistics, Department of Economic and Social Affairs Statistics Division, Statistical papers, Series M No. 91, ST/ESA/STAT/SER.M/91, ISBN: 978-92-1-161545-6, New York.

Policy context and targets

Context description

National policy context

The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) aims to ensure the sustainable use of transboundary water resources by facilitating cooperation. The indicator allows the comparison of the outflow of surface and groundwater to neighbouring countries, outflow of surface and groundwater to the sea and inflow of surface and groundwater from neighbouring countries.

International policy context

The issue of the degree of implementation of integrated water resources management is reflected in SDG 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda for the period up to 2030, which is to ‘ensure access to water and sanitation for all’ and is controlled by indicator 6.5.1, ‘degree of integrated water resources management implementation (0-100)’.

Targets

No specific national target has been specified.

Related policy documents

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1992). UNECE, New York and Geneva

The water code of the Azerbaijan Republic, 1997. Adopted by the Law of Azerbaijan Republic № 418-IG of December 26, 1997 - The code regulates the legal regulations related to the use and protection of water bodies in Azerbaijan.

Sustainable Development Goals. UN (2016). Sustainable development goals, the sustainable development agenda.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation





Note: Internal flow = precipitation - actual evapotranspiration
Renewable freshwater resources = internal flow + inflow of surface and groundwater from neighbouring countries.

Methodology for gap filling

No gap filling has been performed.
Methodology references
• EEA, 2005. EEA core set of indicators guide. EEA Technical report No 1/2005, ISBN 92-9167-757-4, Luxembourg.
• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Data template – C1. Renewable freshwater resources.
• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Description of C1. Renewable freshwater resources.
• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Glossary of terms – C1. Renewable freshwater resources.
• UNSD and UNEP, 2013. Questionnaire 2013 on Environment Statistics. United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme, Questionnaire 2013 on Environment Statistics, Section Water.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified.

Data sets uncertainty

Because of the lack of data on the outflow of surface and groundwater to the sea, the overall natural balance estimation poses uncertainties.

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified.

Data sources

Data sources:

Renewable freshwater resources provided by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the European Environment Agency under the ENI SEIS II East project

Metadata

Topics: water
Indicator code: C1
Tags: renewable freshwater resources, Azerbaijan
Temporal coverage: 2000-2017
DPSIR: State
Typology: descriptive indicator (type A – what is happening to the environment and to humans?)

Dates

Publication date:
Last modified:
Frequency of updates: every year

Contact and ownership

Contact: Asif Verdiyev
Ownership: Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan