The exploitation of Tibet has indeed been a cause for concern regarding its potential impact on the global climate. Tibet, often referred to as the “Roof of the World,” is known for its high-altitude landscapes, including the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayan Mountain range. Tibet plays a significant role in regulating global climate patterns and is often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to the vast amount of ice and snow they contain.
“We have only one Tibet. There are no backups, no second chances. If the water resources of the Tibetan plateau should be blocked or diverted or become polluted, then Asia will tumble into chaos.”
There are several aspects of Tibet’s exploitation that can contribute to a global climate catastrophe. Since the 1970s, China has intensified its policies of deforestation, mining, and damming of rivers in Tibet which destroys Tibet’s fragile environment. At the same time, under the pretext of building highways, railway lines, and airports, China has stepped up its practice of destructive development practices on the Tibetan plateau. Due to this rampant violation of Tibet’s ecology, Tibet has witnessed a series of unprecedented epidemics, famines, landslides, floods, and earthquakes in recent times. Due to climate change on the Tibetan plateau, the seasonal rainfall in many countries of Asia particularly India and China were severely affected leading to frequent natural calamities.
Today there are more than 126 identified minerals in Tibet with significant reserves of the world’s deposits of uranium, chromite, boron, lithium, borax, and iron. There are globally significant reserves of copper, gold, silver, zinc, oil and gas, and other minerals on the plateau. Yulong Copper Mine at Chamdo and Norbusa chromite mine in Lhoka are some of their kind in Tibet. China has started investing huge sums of money in Tibet from a variety of sources including the central and provincial treasuries and foreign investors. Consequently, several mining projects in Tibet were launched in China’s Eighth (1991-1995) and Ninth Five Year Plan (1996-2000). Many of the major schemes in the so-called “43 Development Projects” and “62 Development Projects” are directly related to the development and speeding up of the mining industry in Tibet. All these mining developmental areas are concentrated on potential mineral deposits that are sure to generate remarkable economic returns.
Tibet is the source of several major rivers, including the Yangtze, Yellow, and Brahmaputra, providing water to millions downstream. However, China has constructed numerous dams and hydroelectric projects in Tibet, altering natural river flow patterns and impacting downstream water availability. Changes in water availability can have far-reaching consequences on agriculture, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of people around the region.
Climate change and glacial retreat: Tibet’s high-altitude glaciers are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures are causing the glaciers to melt at an accelerated rate, leading to glacial retreat and the potential loss of a vital freshwater resource. This can have severe consequences for regional water supplies and contribute to global sea-level rise.
The consequences of these activities driven by China are of global concern and addressing them requires a comprehensive approach involving international cooperation, sustainable development practices, and respect for the rights and well-being of the Tibetan people.
