ISLAMABAD: The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region has significant untapped potential for renewable energy, but clean energy currently accounts for only 6.1% of its total supply, according to a new report.
The study, Together We Have More Power: Status, Challenges, and the Potential for Regional Renewable Energy Cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, was released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and launched at an event hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad.
The report shows that fossil fuels dominate the region’s energy mix, with Bangladesh generating 98% of its electricity from fossil fuels, India 77%, Pakistan 76%, China 67%, and Myanmar 51%. The authors highlight that the eight HKH countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan—could become global leaders in clean energy through strengthened regional cooperation on technology, infrastructure, and cross-border energy trade.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said the findings have major implications for Pakistan, noting that reliance on fossil fuels exposes the country to global price shocks. He added that harnessing solar and wind potential via regional grids could reduce import bills and help mitigate climate change impacts.
ICIMOD Deputy Director-General Izabella Koziell described the HKH, often called the “Third Pole,” as critical for regulating the global climate, while also among the most climate-vulnerable regions. She emphasized the need for deeper regional collaboration in research and innovation.
Dr Abid Hussain of ICIMOD highlighted that the HKH sustains nearly 3.4 billion people and that rivers in the region are essential for energy and livelihoods. He noted the renewable energy potential of the HKH is estimated at 3.5 terawatts, but only 6% has been harnessed due to social, technical, and political challenges.
Shubhuti Kiran Ghimire of ICIMOD Nepal said the organisation is working on climate-resilient basin management projects across Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan to improve sustainable water and energy practices.
The report urges the eight HKH nations to adopt a collective strategy to expand renewable energy, meet Sustainable Development Goal 7, and secure a sustainable energy future for one of the world’s most climate-sensitive regions.
