Accelerating climate resilience in the hydropower sector of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region

About the dialogue

The Dialogue on ‘Climate-resilient hydropower development’ aims to promote a technical and policy dialogue between government officials and technical experts from the HKH region and beyond. The dialogue will include interactive talks, case studies, and discussions that promote peer-to-peer learning and highlight regional and global perspectives, and good practices on climate and disaster-resilient hydropower development.
The dialogue is being organised by ICIMOD in collaboration with the Geographical Society of China and Tribhuvan University. This workshop aims to attract mountain science researchers to the HKH region and foster research collaboration.

Objectives

• To encourage joint efforts and exchange of expertise among stakeholders to tackle climate challenges and promote resilience of hydropower by fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing
• To drive the creation and implementation of new strategies to enhance climate resilience in hydropower sector

The diverse speakers include representatives from ICIMOD’s regional member countries, the International Hydropower Association, and global resilience scholars and practitioners from academic institutions, the private sector, and the public sector.

Expected outcomes of the dialogue

•  Greater awareness of existing knowledge and guidance on climate resilience in the hydropower sectors of the HKH region.
• Better understanding of the knowledge gaps and an assessment of the type of guidance needed to advance climate resilience of the hydropower sector.
• Enhancing collaboration among the global community of practice with public and private sector actors for future follow-up actions.

Background

A key feature of modernisation is adopting new technologies to meet energy demands. The HKH region has significant hydropower potential crucial for addressing energy needs and driving economic growth. However, hydropower faces challenges, particularly from climate change. These issues include glacier retreat, erratic precipitation, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and landslides, all of which threaten water and energy infrastructure. As climate impacts intensify, integrating climate risk-proofing for infrastructure investments and climate adaptation options becomes increasingly critical.

Recognising these challenges, ICIMOD has been working on issues related to sustainability of hydropower. In collaboration with the Government of Nepal and with support from Government of Norway, ICIMOD is in the process of developing a Climate resilient hydropower guideline. As part of this effort, a special session titled “Regional dialogue on accelerating climate resilience in the hydropower sector of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region” is planned during this workshop.

About the project

The project “Generation of evidence and knowledge on the basin scale climate and environmental risks to the hydropower sector in Nepal (GEM-Nepal)” is implemented by Action Area A – Managing Cryosphere and Water Risks within the Strategic Group 1 – Reducing Climate and Environment Risks at ICIMOD. Under this project, ICIMOD has partnered with the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) to assess hydropower risks from cryosphere, water, and climate hazards and develop Nepal’s Climate Resilient Hydropower Guidelines. This project aims to generate evidence and knowledge to strengthen hydropower management and mountain economies in Nepal. It will also build capacity for climate risk assessment in renewable energy infrastructure, focusing on hydropower planning and development.