Regional cooperation key to unleashing immense renewable energy potential of the Hindu Kush Himalaya, major report finds

Islamabad, Pakistan | November 7, 2025 – The countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) are failing to harness their “immense” collective renewable energy potential, with clean energy making up a “very low” 6.1% of their total primary energy supply (TPES), according to a major new assessment report from International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

The report ‘Together we have more power: status, challenges, and the potential for regional renewable energy cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’ provides a stark analysis of the regions energy landscape.  It finds that despite a staggering 3.5-Terawatt potential for solar, wind and hydropower, the eight HKH nations remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels and traditional biomass, jeopardising energy security, public health, and climate goals.

“Across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, countries have pledged 1.7 terawatts of renewable-energy capacity. But the region’s true potential is far greater—over 3.5 terawatts,” said Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General, ICIMOD. “That’s more than twice the current ambition and represents a transformative opportunity to turn the HKH into a powerhouse of clean energy and climate leadership for the world.” While Bhutan and Nepal generate 100% of their electricity from renewables, fossil fuels dominate elsewhere: 98% in Bangladesh, 77% in India, 76% in Pakistan’s, 67% in China, and 51% in Myanmar. In addition, an ”alarmingly high” reliance on biofuel and waste, such as wood and dung for cooking in countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Pakistan points to persistent energy poverty  and its , severe impacts on air quality and health.

The report sounds a clear warning on climate threats, noting that changing hydrological patterns and increasing extreme events like glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) pose ‘major risks’ to the energy sector. It finds that close to two-thirds of existing and planned hydropower projects are vulnerable to potential glacier floods alone .

“Our warming world is directly threatening the stability of our energy infrastructure,” said Abid Hussain, the report’s Coordinating Lead Author and Senior Economist at ICIMOD. “Renewable energy projects, especially hydropower, can no longer be planned in a vacuum. Disaster risk reduction must be a cornerstone of their design, not an afterthought.”

The assessment advocates for a shift towards “dams equivalents”  – a suite of modern technological and institutional solutions, including updated irrigation systems, water-efficient farming, and solar and wind energy to achieve water and energy security without the downside of large reservoirs.

The report identifies significant barriers to progress, including high capital costs, limited public finance, difficulties of attracting private investment and a lack of supportive policy frameworks.

It concludes that overcoming these hurdles and capturing the full benefits of the clean energy transition – from poverty reduction and improved health, to job creation and industrial development – is inextricably linked to greater regional cooperation.

“For Pakistan, this report is not just about energy, it’s about national security and economic stability,” said Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). “With 76% of our electricity generated from fossil fuels, we are dangerously exposed to volatile international prices. Our share of the region’s immense solar and wind potential is a strategic asset. Tapping into it through regional grids can slash our import bill, secure our energy future, and create thousands of jobs, all while protecting our people from devasting floods that climate change is already bringing to our doorstep.”

“Renewable energy isn’t just an environmental solution—it’s a catalyst for inclusive economic growth,” Hussain stated. “By investing in clean power and collaborating across borders on energy trade, technology transfer, and building resilient infrastructure we can meet the needs of today but also safeguard the wellbeing of future generations. Our interconnectedness makes this not just an opportunity, but a necessity.” The report was launched during the session ‘Advancing SDG 7 in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Climate-Resilient Renewable Energy, Regional Cooperation and Pathway’ jointly organised by the ICIMOD, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) at SDPI’s 28th Sustainable Development Conference in Islamabad.