A new report emphasizes the escalating ecological crisis in Tibet, asserting it must no longer be overlooked in global environmental governance. Produced by the Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA), the publication features insights from over twenty international experts regarding the Tibetan Plateau’s rapid ecological decline and its significant implications for Asia’s water security, regional stability, and global climate governance.
Referred to as the “Third Pole,” the region is warming at over twice the global average, leading to glacier retreat, thawing permafrost, and degrading grasslands. These changes threaten the delicate water systems that support nearly two billion people across South and Southeast Asia. The report, titled “Wither Tibet in the Climate Crisis Agenda?”, links Tibet’s ecological crisis to governance issues, criticizing China’s development model, characterized by infrastructure expansion, militarization, and resource extraction, for exacerbating ecological stress.
The document raises concerns about extensive hydropower projects like the proposed Medog mega dam, estimated to cost over USD 160 billion. This project could cause seismic disturbances and ecological damage downstream in India and Bangladesh, highlighting the absence of transparent impact assessments. Environmental researcher Dechen Palmo notes the interconnectedness of Tibet’s rivers with ecological stability and regional security, and warns of the dam’s potential to fragment river systems and place local communities at risk.
Despite its critical importance, Tibet remains marginalized in global climate discussions, including at UN climate negotiations. The report urges stakeholders to prioritize the Tibetan Plateau in international climate policy as the urgent climate crisis necessitates coordinated global action. A spokesperson from the Central Tibetan Administration remarks that unchecked development has led to significant ecological destruction, worsening the global climate crisis.
