World
Aral Sea: its desiccated bed has released 748 million tonnes of CO₂ since 1960
A Spanish research study published on July 16, 2026 in Science journal reveals that the desiccated bed of the Aral Sea has released 748 million tonnes of CO₂ since 1960 — equivalent to the combined annual emissions of Spain, France, and Belgium. An additional 605 million tonnes could potentially be released from this site. Researchers propose financing partial refilling through carbon credits, valued at between €3.1 and €15.8 billion. Lake desiccation, now a worldwide phenomenon, represents an underestimated climate risk.