A panel discussion on water security in the Himalayan region took a significant turn last week by openly addressing the situation in Tibet. The panel, convened by the US State Department in partnership with the International Water Management Institute, was part of the World Water Week Conference held on August 24 in Stockholm.
The Himalayas, often referred to as the “Third Pole,” are a critical source of freshwater for an estimated 1.8 billion people across South and Southeast Asia. However, the integrity of this water supply is increasingly under threat due to large-scale water diversion projects and hydropower development, particularly those initiated by the Chinese government in Tibet.
Uzra Zeya, US Under Secretary of State and Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, warned in a video introduction that China’s increasing water diversion projects and hydropower development in Tibet have been implemented without the input of Tibet’s 6 million residents. She added that these projects have had negative implications for the water security of downstream nations.
Rebecca Peters, a water policy advisor to the State Department, further elaborated on the issue. She emphasized that the rapid development of large-scale infrastructure in Tibet has compounded the effects of climate change and growing demands for water. Peters also highlighted that the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 calls for increased collaboration and transparency between China, Himalayan nations, and the Tibetan community.
Asok Kumar, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, also spoke at the panel. He underscored the importance of the Himalayan water supply to downstream countries, particularly India, where the Ganges River basin serves about 40% of the nation’s population.
The panel featured Tibetan exiles Lobsang Yangtso, a senior researcher at the International Tibet Network, and Tsechu Dolma, founder of the Mountain Resiliency Project. Both emphasized the need for more open discussions and international pressure on China to ensure environmental sustainability and water security in the region.
A white paper summarizing the panel’s discussions and recommendations is expected to be released soon.
(With inputs from ICT)
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