China’s sweeping infrastructure expansion, militarisation, and resource extraction are driving the Tibetan Plateau into “severe ecological distress”.

The study, released by the Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs ahead of COP30, warns that Tibet, often called the “Roof of the World”, is facing environmental breakdown with global implications.

Tibet’s role in climate discussions is crucial, as its rapid warming is impacting water, food, and energy security throughout the Indo-Pacific, as reported by Phayul.

According to Phayul, the research notes that Tibet is warming at more than twice the global average, with glaciers retreating and permafrost melting. Grasslands that sustain Asia’s major river systems are deteriorating, endangering nearly two billion people downs

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