On November 19, 2025 in Lhasa, the Chinese mainland's second Qinghai-Xizang Plateau scientific expedition unveiled its top 10 application achievements, showcasing breakthroughs in ecological conservation, disaster prevention, resource exploration, carbon accounting, traffic safety and border area development.
Led by Yao Tandong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team provided scientific support for plateau ecological protection legislation, built a new Earth observation and early-warning platform, and developed advanced permafrost technologies to safeguard major projects such as the Sichuan-Xizang Railway and regional expressways.
For the first time, scientists proposed a 'third environmental transition' on the plateau. Yao and his colleagues identified three phases of change: tectonic uplift and monsoon shifts that set the stage for the first transition; the plateau's rise, cold-drying climate and the emergence of an interconnected pattern among the Antarctica, the Arctic and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau for the second; and now warming, humidification and vegetation expansion driven by global change and human activities.
Today, the plateau's rapid warming, wetting and 'greening' trends are amplifying both regional and global climate impacts. The expedition found that the 'Asian Water Tower' – which feeds major rivers across Asia – could see up to a 49% increase in runoff by 2100, a critical factor for water security affecting billions of people downstream.
By exploring the plateau's geology, climate, ecosystems and even nearby ocean influences, this research establishes a new frontier in earth system science centered on the 'three poles'. These insights will be vital for developing strategies in sustainable water management, disaster resilience and climate mitigation.
As the planet faces growing climate uncertainties, the high-altitude laboratory of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau reminds us that its transformations resonate far beyond its borders. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, these findings underscore the need for innovative solutions that bridge science, policy and on-the-ground action.
Reference(s):
New findings of China's second Qinghai-Xizang Plateau expedition
cgtn.com
