The 4th Tibet Environment Conference, a significant gathering of environmental experts and activists, was recently held in Thailand, as reported by Tibet.net. This two-day event, organized by the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and Chulalongkorn University, focused on the critical theme “Tibet: The Water Tower of Asia (Towards a Global Common Good).”
Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, representing the Office of Tibet in Japan, and Dr. Sayamol Charoenratana from Chulalongkorn University, presided over the inaugural session. The conference brought together leading experts from Asia and South East Asia to discuss the ecological challenges facing the Tibetan Plateau and its downstream communities, particularly in light of China’s aggressive dam-building and water diversion projects.
This conference, strategically convened before the 2023 COP28, aimed to raise awareness and integrate Tibet‘s water and ecological concerns into global climate discussions. Among the key topics addressed were hydro-geopolitics in South Asian river basins, the impact of climate change on food and water security, and the neutralization of water disputes. The conference also examined China‘s approach to transboundary water governance and the influence of the Tibetan plateau on the Southeast Asian summer monsoon.
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Dr. Arya highlighted the detrimental effects of China‘s economic development policies on Tibet‘s environment, citing the exploitation of Tibet’s minerals and natural resources and their impact on Asia’s rivers. Dr. Sayamol emphasized the urgent need for countries facing water crises, like Thailand, to collaborate in addressing these challenges, especially those arising from climate change and water resource mismanagement.
Dechen Palmo, an environmental researcher at TPI, explained the conference’s aim: to underscore the global ecological significance of the Tibetan Plateau and the environmental situation in Tibet. The discussions also focused on understanding the effects of climate change in Tibet and its global connections.
The second day of the conference was dedicated to deliberating on three important topics: Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resilience, Public Participation in Governance of Transboundary Water Resources, and Tibet‘s role in the Global Climate Conversation.
The conference aims to reassess and bring to the forefront the state of Tibet‘s transboundary rivers and the escalating water crisis affecting millions. It also seeks to build a coalition of stakeholders to emphasize the importance of regional cooperation for water security, improved water governance, and sustainable development.
Previous Tibet Environment Conferences, held in 2015, 2019, and virtually in 2021, have successfully convened diverse experts to highlight Tibet‘s ecological role and its relationship with global climate change. This year’s conference continues this tradition, contributing to the ongoing efforts to protect and understand the vital role of the Tibetan Plateau in the global ecological system.
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