China recently approved a new hydro-power dam in Tibet, and India and Bangladesh have responded with concern over how it will impact millions living downstream. The dam, which would be the largest of its kind to date, will be built on the Yarlung Zangbo River, which flows into India and Bangladesh. According to Reuters, Indian and Bangladeshi responses have highlighted the potential negative ecological impacts of the project, as well as possible disruption to the river’s flow. Relations between China and India have been especially strained since a deadly clash in 2020, though the two countries recently reached a new border agreement. Tensions are also high between Beijing and Tibet, as the proposed dam will be built on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau. This area has a history of environmental exploitation by China, which the Central Tibetan Administration has passionately condemned. 

In a press conference on 6 January 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed concerns, assuring Reuters that “the project will not have a negative impact on the ecological environment, geological conditions and the rights and interests related to water resources of downstream countries.” Yet, India and Bangladesh remain worried that the new dam will give China too much control over the Yarlung Zangbo River, and experts say that the earthquake-prone area poses risks to the dam. Sayanangshu Modak, a water governance researcher at the University of Arizona, was quoted in the Tibetan Review, discussing the “fragility of the region, and the grave risks associated with large-scale hydropower projects.” Tibet was recently struck by a massive earthquake that left more than 100 dead. 

The controversy over the Yarlung Zangbo dam highlights why current conflicts and political dynamics need to be considered in climate solutions, and why innovations cannot focus solely on the goals of individual countries. As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, the added stress could exacerbate existing sociopolitical conflicts. Hydro-power, while technically considered a source of renewable energy, is widely regarded as being a cost-heavy solution, given the massive negative impact it can have on local communities and environments.

The conflict over this dam is rooted in a long history of environmental destruction of Tibetan land by China, which has included mass hunting, deforestation, and pollution as a result of large-scale mining, according to the Central Tibetan Administration. China, which is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, has pledged to reach a non-fossil fuel energy share of 25% by 2030, according to the Carbon Brief. Overall, China has been making steady and timely progress toward its climate goals. As the Carbon Brief details in its breakdown, China has the largest hydroelectric capacity in the world and produces 30% of global hydroelectricity. 

While a step away from fossil fuels, hydroelectric dams can negatively impact local fish migration and river chemistry and often require the relocation of local communities and submersion of agricultural and archeological land, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In China, these hydroelectric dams have historically come at the expense of Tibetan communities. In early 2024, hundreds of Tibetans were arrested and many were beaten during protests against the Gangtuo dam proposal. According to the BBC, the Gangtuo dam would displace thousands and submerge a 700-year-old monastery. Similar protests against Chinese dams have gone on for decades. 

Climate change threatens to increase food insecurity, worsen competition over resources, and displace large numbers of people. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, “the climate crisis is altering the nature and severity of humanitarian crises.” The Red Cross has recommended that “significant systemic and structural changes” be made to humanitarian efforts in order to prevent worsening crises, especially for those who are most vulnerable to displacement, political conflict, and climate impacts. When making the transition from fossil fuels to green energy, governments need to consider not only the reduction of emissions but also the humanitarian implications of new infrastructure.