A bombshell report released today by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) uncovers the shocking extent of China’s destructive hydropower agenda in Tibet. Titled Chinese Hydropower: Damning Tibet’s Culture, Community, and Environment, the report paints a grim picture of irreparable damage to Tibet’s civilization, environment, and the livelihoods of millions across Asia. Through advanced Geographic Imaging Software (GIS) analysis and meticulous regional research, ICT reveals how Beijing’s unbridled hydropower expansion threatens not just Tibet but the very survival of 1.8 billion people downstream.
Tibet’s rivers, the lifelines of Asia, are being hijacked by China’s industrial ambitions. The construction of 193 hydropower dams—spanning from those already built to those merely proposed—has turned Tibet into a veritable hydro-laboratory. Among the most egregious examples is the 2,240-megawatt Khamtok (Chinese: Gangtuo) dam in Derge County. This single project will displace thousands of Tibetans, obliterate their ancestral villages, and bulldoze centuries-old monasteries—cultural treasures that define Tibet’s identity.
The report estimates that a staggering 1.2 million Tibetans could be uprooted if these dam projects proceed. To date, 121,651 people have already been expelled. “The damming of Tibet is nothing short of cultural genocide,” said an ICT spokesperson. “By forcibly removing communities and destroying their sacred sites, China seeks to erase Tibetan identity.”
The environmental toll of China’s hydropower agenda is catastrophic. Large and mega-dams, which account for 80% of the projects, inundate biodiverse ecosystems, disrupt river flows, and increase the risks of earthquakes, landslides, and flash floods. Dams also release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, exacerbating climate change rather than mitigating it.
China’s reckless projects are not limited to local damage. By controlling the headwaters of Asia’s major rivers, Beijing wields water as a weapon. Downstream nations such as India, Nepal, and Bangladesh are already grappling with water scarcity. The PRC’s refusal to share hydrological data or engage in regional water accords further heightens geopolitical tensions.
The hydropower expansion is an unrelenting assault on Tibet’s cultural and religious heritage. The destruction of sacred monasteries and displacement of monastic communities sever ties to centuries-old traditions. Images of monks and laypeople pleading with officials to spare their temples speak volumes about the human cost of these projects.
“Tibetans, who are among the most politically marginalized in China, bear the highest cost to power China’s industrial centers,” the report states. “Any long-term solution must involve a political resolution that respects Tibetans’ right to decide the use of their natural resources.”
China’s justification of hydropower as a “green” energy source is a cynical ploy. Dams are far from carbon-neutral; they emit vast quantities of methane and disrupt carbon sinks. Worse, the massive financial and infrastructural investments in these projects lock in environmental damage for decades, leaving no room for cleaner alternatives like solar and wind energy.