Hindu Kush Himalayas Tap 6% Clean Energy Potential Amid Climate Risks

A recent report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reveals that despite the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) countries holding immense renewable energy potential, clean energy accounts for only about 6.1% of their total primary energy supply. Hydropower, which has an identified potential of 882 gigawatts across the region—including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan—is significantly underutilized, with only 49% of this capacity currently tapped. The region's solar and wind energy potential stands at 3 terawatts, exceeding the combined renewable energy targets of 1.7 terawatts set by these countries under their climate pledges. While Bhutan and Nepal generate all of their electricity from renewables, other countries in the region heavily rely on fossil fuels, which dominate electricity generation in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, and Myanmar. The report also highlights climate change threats to hydropower projects due to water variability, extreme weather, and glacier floods, placing nearly two-thirds of projects at risk, and calls for disaster risk strategies and alternatives to large dams, such as efficient irrigation and expanded solar and wind adoption. Additionally, reliance on biofuels and waste remains high in some HKH countries, reflecting rural dependence on traditional energy sources despite their adverse health and environmental impacts.