“The fate of the glaciers at the world’s Third Pole will decide the fate of millions downstream.”
— ICIMOD Report, 2023
Gilgit-Baltistan — known to scientists as The Third Pole — is the environmental barometer of Pakistan, a region whose towering mountains cradle some of the planet’s largest glacial reserves outside the polar zones. Its rivers nourish the mighty Indus Basin, sustaining life far beyond its valleys. Yet today, this region of sublime beauty and serenity stands at the frontline of climate change, confronting an ecological and energy crisis of historic proportions.
A Region in Peril
Long, frigid winters are growing even harsher, while glacial melt and erratic weather patterns disturb traditional livelihoods. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan remain heavily dependent on fuelwood extraction for heating and cooking — a practice now accelerating the loss of its already limited forest cover.
At the same time, vehicular emissions — virtually nonexistent half a century ago — now cloud the air in urban centers like Gilgit, Skardu, and Hunza, particularly during peak tourist seasons. Despite holding one of the largest untapped hydropower potentials in Asia (over 40,000 MW), the region paradoxically faces electricity shortages severe enough that even light bulbs flicker through the cold season.
Without decisive and coordinated action, this imbalance between nature’s bounty and human necessity could spiral into irreversible degradation.
Hydropower: Harnessing Nature’s Own Energy
Gilgit-Baltistan’s steep gradients and glacial streams make it a natural hub for hydropower. Yet, only a fraction of this resource is utilized. The solution lies not in waiting for mega-dams, but in decentralized, community-based energy systems.
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Micro and mini-hydel projects (0.1–5 MW) can empower individual valleys and villages, ensuring local ownership and sustainability.
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Decentralized microgrids will allow each community to manage and distribute power efficiently.
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Run-of-the-river plants with small winter storage reservoirs can keep electricity flowing year-round.
This model not only provides clean energy but also keeps economic benefits within local communities, creating a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment and conservation.
Solar Hybridization — The Mountain Sun Solution
Despite its cold climate, Gilgit-Baltistan enjoys strong solar radiation throughout the year. Hybrid hydro-solar systems can thus balance the seasonal dips in hydropower output.
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Rooftop solar installations on homes, schools, and public offices can significantly reduce dependence on the grid.
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Solar farms on barren, sun-facing slopes near Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu can feed dedicated EV charging parks and micro-industries.
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Solar mini-grids for remote settlements can ensure access to electricity without the environmental cost of firewood.
This blend of hydro and solar power represents a sustainable dual-engine for the region’s clean energy transition.
Replacing Fuelwood: Breaking the Cycle of Deforestation
The survival of G-B’s forests depends on providing viable energy substitutes for local households.
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Solar thermal heaters and solar cookers can meet daily needs affordably.
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Biogas digesters — particularly in livestock-rich valleys — can produce clean fuel for cooking.
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Pelletized biomass stoves using agricultural waste can replace traditional wood stoves.
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A “Green Winter Programme” offering subsidies for these technologies can accelerate adoption, especially among low-income households.
These interventions would drastically reduce forest pressure, improve indoor air quality, and enhance public health.
Reforestation and Energy Forests
To restore the ecological fabric, reforestation must proceed on a war footing.
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Establish “Energy Forests” of fast-growing species like willow and poplar near habitations for controlled wood supply.
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Launch a Valley Green Corps — youth-driven reforestation units responsible for planting and protecting local woodlands.
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Prioritize indigenous species such as deodar, pine, and chilghoza for ecological balance.
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Introduce payment-for-ecosystem-services schemes, compensating communities that preserve and expand forest cover.
By linking livelihoods with conservation, deforestation can be reversed through community pride and stewardship.
Green Mobility and Emission Control
Vehicular pollution, an emerging menace, must be tackled before it entrenches itself.
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Introduce electric minibuses and government fleets in Gilgit and Skardu as early adopters.
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Encourage low-cost Chinese EVs and e-bikes, well-suited to the terrain and economical to charge.
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Establish solar-powered community charging hubs in pilot valleys such as Hunza and Ghizer.
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Develop EV green corridors along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) with charging stations every 50–60 kilometers through public-private partnerships.
Simultaneously, strict emission inspection regimes and incentives for EV conversions can help clear the mountain air.
Energy Storage and Smart Distribution
A reliable energy transition requires intelligent systems.
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Install battery banks at hydro and solar stations to store surplus summer power.
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Explore pumped-storage hydropower to reserve energy for the lean winter months.
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Introduce smart meters and digital monitoring to prioritize essential and equitable distribution.
By balancing generation and storage, the region can overcome its seasonal energy fluctuations.
Governance, Policy, and International Partnership
The success of these initiatives depends on robust governance and global cooperation.
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Declare Gilgit-Baltistan a “Model Climate Resilience Zone.”
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Establish a Gilgit-Baltistan Climate and Energy Authority (GBCEA) to coordinate energy, reforestation, and emission programs.
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Collaborate with UNDP, ICIMOD, the Green Climate Fund, and Belt & Road Green Energy initiatives to mobilize technical and financial support.
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Integrate environmental education into school curricula to build a generation of eco-conscious citizens.
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Explore carbon credit programs to fund reforestation and renewable projects sustainably.
These policy measures can transform G-B into a living laboratory of climate resilience.
Immediate and Practical Actions
While long-term frameworks evolve, certain immediate actions can bring relief:
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Impose a ban on commercial logging and regulate domestic fuelwood extraction.
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Subsidize LPG and efficient cooking stoves during the transition period.
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Implement seasonal emission control for vehicles entering G-B during tourist peaks.
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Promote shared and public transport systems to cut down on fuel consumption.
Such interventions will demonstrate the region’s seriousness in combating climate degradation.
The Path Ahead — A Model for Mountain Resilience
The destiny of Gilgit-Baltistan mirrors that of the nation itself. Its glaciers sustain Pakistan’s rivers; its forests protect its watersheds; its mountains regulate its weather. To safeguard this priceless natural heritage is to secure the country’s environmental future.
By embracing community-driven renewable energy, responsible tourism, and intelligent conservation, Gilgit-Baltistan can evolve from an energy-deficient mountain region into a global model of sustainable transformation — where the hum of clean turbines replaces the crackle of burning wood, and where the air once again carries the scent of pine instead of pollution.
If the Third Pole turns green, it will not only save itself — it will help save Pakistan, and perhaps, the planet.
Author’s Note:
Syed Shams Uddin is a writer and environmental observer based in Gilgit-Baltistan. He has authored multiple articles on regional development, hydroelectric potential, and climate change, including “Northern Areas: Central Asia of Pakistan,” published in The Nation and on his website, windowtogb.com. He advocates for community-led environmental stewardship and sustainable mountain development.
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