BRUSSELS, May 16 — Tibetan Representative Rigzin Genkhang raised alarm over the far-reaching consequences of China’s hydropower expansion in Tibet during a conference held Wednesday at the European Parliament.
The event, convened by the International Campaign for Tibet Brussels, brought together environmental experts, EU policymakers, and advocacy groups to examine the humanitarian, ecological, and geopolitical fallout from damming projects on the Tibetan Plateau.
Genkhang, speaking on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), drew attention to the ecological fragility of Tibet and its strategic significance, warning that the region’s extensive river systems — lifelines for hundreds of millions across Asia — are under serious threat.
“These dams jeopardize not just Tibet’s environment, but also the water security of vast populations living downstream,” Genkhang said.
He called for global climate and environmental institutions to recognize Tibet’s central role in Asia’s ecology and to integrate it into broader environmental protection strategies.
The conference addressed China’s ongoing efforts to harness Tibet’s river systems for large-scale hydropower projects, a development critics say risks irreversible environmental degradation and destabilization across borders.
The Tibetan Plateau, often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to its vast glacial reserves, feeds many of Asia’s major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Mekong, and Yangtze.
On the sidelines of the event, Genkhang held bilateral meetings with several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), where he expressed appreciation for the European Parliament’s recent resolution condemning religious repression in Tibet.
Discussions also explored avenues for further action. EU Advocacy Officer Tenzin Phuntsok joined the engagements, according to a CTA statement.
The meetings came against a broader backdrop of global concern over human rights in Tibet.
Human Rights Watch recently called on governments — especially those with large Buddhist populations — to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, who vanished at age six after being recognized by the Dalai Lama in 1995.
The Tibet-China conflict continues to revolve around issues of political sovereignty, religious freedom, and cultural preservation.
While Beijing maintains that Tibet is an integral part of its territory, the Tibetan exile leadership, led by the Dalai Lama, continues to seek genuine autonomy and protections for Tibetan identity and heritage.
