Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Tibetan Plateau: Environmental Change

Tuesday 16 June 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kerry McCarthy raised concerns about China's environmental impact on the Tibetan plateau.
  • The Minister acknowledged concerns over large-scale environmental projects in Tibet.
  • Wera Hobhouse highlighted the Tibetan Parliament in exile's worry about restricted access to the region.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

The question arises from concerns about environmental changes in the Tibetan plateau and their implications for countries globally, particularly through rivers originating from this region.

Question

Mr Speaker, I echo what you said about Jo Cox. I think her message is more important today than it ever was. I thank the Minister for her response. China's actions, from environmentally destructive mining to building dams to divert water sources, will have consequences far beyond the Tibetan plateau, as she says, as will the failure to address the impact of climate change on the third pole. What steps can the UK take to raise these issues at a global level? Does the Minister agree that the voices of Tibetans should be heard in any such talks?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

The UK continues to engage with China on climate and environmental issues. During the recent UK-China environment dialogue, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs secured agreement for greater collaboration with China on ecosystem resilience, biodiversity, conservation and multilateral environmental processes. Our Himalayan resilience action plan is building regional resilience through nature-based solutions, tackling water insecurity, air quality management and promoting dialogue through the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. As countries come together in pursuit of these solutions, it is important that affected communities are consulted.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about including Tibetan voices was not addressed directly with a clear commitment.

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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

The question stems from concerns about China's environmental actions and their global impact, specifically mentioning mining, dam building, and climate change affecting the Tibetan region.

Question

Mr Speaker, I echo what you said about Jo Cox. I think her message is more important today than it ever was. I thank the Minister for her response. China's actions, from environmentally destructive mining to building dams to divert water sources, will have consequences far beyond the Tibetan plateau, as she says, as will the failure to address the impact of climate change on the third pole. What steps can the UK take to raise these issues at a global level? Does the Minister agree that the voices of Tibetans should be heard in any such talks?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

The hon. Lady raises an important concern. We are concerned by reporting from the UN special rapporteurs that large-scale environmental projects in Tibet risk the forced displacement of Tibetans from their ancestral villages. It is important that we keep these issues on our radar.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about including Tibetan voices was not directly addressed, focusing instead on concerns over UN reports.

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Q3 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

The question is concerned with the secrecy surrounding the Tibetan Autonomous Region and its impact on environmental monitoring and protection efforts.

Question

The Tibetan Parliament in exile, which the all-party parliamentary group on Tibet visited a couple of weeks ago—we have engaged extensively with it—is terribly worried that the central Tibet Autonomous Region is completely closed off by the Chinese Communist party to any outside access. Little comes out and almost nothing goes in. Is the Minister not worried about the complete secrecy in which the Chinese authorities can conduct environmental destruction that has a massive global impact?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

The hon. Lady raises an important concern. We are concerned by reporting from the UN special rapporteurs that large-scale environmental projects in Tibet risk the forced displacement of Tibetans from their ancestral villages. It is important that we keep these issues on our radar.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about transparency was not directly addressed, focusing instead on concerns over UN reports.

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