The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region faces acute climate vulnerability but also holds immense untapped renewable energy potential. Achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) in this region is essential not only for climate resilience but also for economic stability, water security, and peacebuilding:

1. Accelerate solar and decentralised renewable systems to expand clean energy access and reduce smog. Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park illustrates how large-scale solar can lower energy costs while improving air quality. Nepal’s Karnali mini-grid programme shows how decentralised solar can power remote mountain communities.
2. Adopt climate-resilient hydropower models by integrating water-storage and flood-risk assessments. Bhutan’s Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project demonstrates sustainable hydropower planning, while Nepal’s move to climate-proof existing dams offers replicable lessons for the HKH region.
3. Create a regional clean-energy cooperation framework under SAARC and ICIMOD for cross-border power trade and shared research. The Bangladesh-Nepal power import deal (2024) provides a model for structured energy sharing that can be expanded to include Pakistan and Afghanistan.
4. Advance coal retirement and just transition strategies to protect workers and communities. Pakistan’s plan to repurpose Jamshoro power units into gas and solar hybrids show viable pathways towards low-carbon transformation.
5. Bridge investment gaps through blended finance and green markets. Nepal’s Renewable Energy Development Fund and Bangladesh’s Green Transformation Fund provide blueprints for mobilising private capital for solar, wind, and clean cooking.
6. Scale clean cooking and rural energy access through innovative business models. In Bhutan and Nepal, community biogas and electric cooking initiatives have reduced indoor air pollution and fuelwood dependency. Pakistan and Afghanistan can adapt these through microfinance and women-led enterprises.
7. Empower women and youth in the energy transition. Nepal’s Rural Women’s Energy Cooperative Network model has proven effective in training women as clean-energy entrepreneurs. Similar initiatives should be replicated in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan regions.
8. Diversify energy portfolios with modern storage and green hydrogen. Pilot battery-storage projects in Bangladesh offer regional examples for introducing flexible, resilient energy systems in the HKH.
9. Strengthen institutional capacity and long-term planning. Pakistan’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy 2019 and Nepal’s Energy Sector Strategy 2023–2030 highlight how clear frameworks can attract investment and enhance inter-ministerial coordination.
10. Promote public trust and awareness through transparent project planning and community participation. Bhutan’s community benefit-sharing in hydropower and Pakistan’s citizen-led solar cooperatives are models for inclusive engagement.
11. By translating these shared insights into coordinated regional action, HKH countries can transform their mountains into a renewable energy corridor delivering energy security, resilience, and prosperity to millions while advancing global climate goals.