Himalayan rivers face a hydropower surge | Science

In May, India’s Forest Advisory Committee approved the Etalin Hydropower Project, which aims to produce 3,097 MW of hydroelectric power to meet the country’s energy needs. This will require the construction of dams on the Dri and Tangon rivers, which will divert water from 1,175 ha of forest (278,000 trees) (1, 2). Similarly, the Lower Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower project in China, which began in July, will affect the water flow of the Brahmaputra River in India (3). While hydropower can provide energy security and support the transition to clean energy, these and other Himalayan rivers are vital for biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities. Hydroelectric projects pose environmental threats. Regional collaboration could mitigate environmental and societal risks while preserving energy security.