Sometimes known as ‘the water tower of Asia’, the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region also holds immense potential for hydropower generation. Countries in the region are exploring the potential of hydropower, which has contributed to making it a cornerstone of the economic and social growth in the region. But the looming shadow of climate change casts a dark shadow over this renewable energy source. Rapid glacier melt, erratic precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events are increasingly threatening the stability and sustainability of hydropower projects, which require a constant and steady source of water.
The abundant water resources of the HKH region are due in large part to its huge expanses of snow, and the largest volume of ice on Earth outside of the polar regions. The region’s glaciers and snowmelt feed 10 major rivers, providing freshwater services to 240 million people living in the HKH region and 1.65 billion downstream.
Most countries in the HKH region continue to struggle with an energy deficit; 72% of energy comes from non-renewable sources, only the remaining 28% comes from renewables. Countries in the region need to explore their untapped renewable energy sources including hydropower and ensure that their electricity supply is evenly distributed to light up the rural areas and meet the energy demands of its burgeoning urban population.
The World Bank projects that the South Asian region is to remain the fastest growing economy for the next two years. While this overall rate of growth may be deceptive considering the unequal distribution of resources, the region can explore its untapped hydropower potential to narrow energy inequality. However, this sector is also threatened by climate change and associated extreme weather events, making water supply unpredictable and exposing energy infrastructure to hazards.
Ensuring that hydropower infrastructure is resilient to climate change and associated extremes means making a significant change in how projects are planned and developed, and how policies are positioned to encourage equitable distribution of benefits from energy production.
ICIMOD’s intervention on Resilient River Basins is working to develop frameworks and tools to assess climate risks across entire river basins, to support environmentally sustainable hydropower development. Such frameworks allow researchers to better understand potential risks, such as glacial lake outburst floods and changing rainfall patterns, and to devise the best way to manage them. As part of this, ICIMOD is working with Nepal’s Water and Energy Commission (WECS) to develop comprehensive guidelines for climate-resilient hydropower development in Nepal.
Similarly, ICIMOD has joined forces with the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA) to strengthen climate-resilient hydropower planning and development in the region. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 30 July 2024 will see the two organisations collaborating to advance climate-resilient hydropower development across the region.
Through this MoU, ICIMOD and HSA will:
- Identify and assess climate risks and hazards impacting hydropower infrastructure based on hydropower sustainability guidelines developed by HSA
- Scale guidelines on climate-resilient hydropower being developed for Nepal to all the countries of the HKH
- Build the capacity of hydropower developers, operators and policymakers to adopt sustainable practices
- Advocate for HKH issues to influence national and regional policy frameworks to include sustainable hydropower development, including environmental and social standards
- Collaborate to increase awareness on the importance of sustainable and climate-resilient hydropower and its benefits for sustainable development
- Explore and securefunding for sustainable hydropower development and climate resilience initiatives
“We can no longer afford unsustainable hydropower projects; their negative impacts must be avoided and managed. Organisations like ICIMOD and HSA must strive to influence policies that minimise negative impacts and maximise intended benefits,” commented Ashok Kosla, President of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, during the signing of the MoU.
ICIMOD’s Deputy Director General, Izabella Koziell said, “Collaboration is key to addressing the complex challenges facing the HKH region. By joining forces with HSA, we are demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainable hydropower development and climate resilience."
The MoU was exchanged during the regional dialogue on ‘Accelerating climate resilience in the hydropower sector of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region’ at ICIMOD. Such regional dialogues bring together government representatives and technical experts on a shared non-political platform – in this case to underscore the critical need for climate resilience in hydropower planning and development.
“Sharing experiences and lessons learnt from practices, tools and approaches in climate-resilient hydropower in the region and globally is critical for developing robust guidelines for the HKH”, said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, Strategic Group Lead for Reducing Climate and Environmental Risks.
The 30 July regional dialogue was attended by government representatives and technical experts from Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and global hydropower resilience scholars and practitioners. The discussions highlighted the urgent challenges posed by climate change in our region, including glacial melt, erratic precipitation patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. These challenges demand our immediate attention and collaborative efforts to ensure the sustainability and resilience of hydropower infrastructure across the HKH region.
The collaboration is supported by the Government of Norway and implemented by ICIMOD’s Action Area on Managing cryosphere and water risks, under the Strategic Group on Reducing Climate and Environmental Risks.
