Precipitation in the Caspian region is decreasing while evaporation is increasing, making the region particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures. Science becomes central to the responseThis growing complexity explains the emphasis on scientific cooperation during Caspian Sea Action Week. An international seminar and roundtable on Aug. 6-7 brought together scientists and experts from Caspian countries to discuss environmental monitoring technologies and ongoing research. Instead, the difference between them represents two levels of adaptation that Caspian countries may have to prepare for. The Caspian countries are no longer dealing only with the task of protecting an existing ecosystem from pollution and overuse.