Contribution short abstract

The study analyses the proposed 13 GW solar project in Changthang, exploring state and local narratives, stakeholder perceptions, and its potential impacts on Changpa livelihoods. It highlights tensions between renewable energy expansion and safeguarding pastoral rights and grazing landscapes.

Contribution long abstract

The global transition to renewable energy is widely regarded as essential for addressing climate change, promoting economic growth, and ensuring energy security. With mounting international pressure to decarbonize economies, the renewable energy sector has expanded rapidly over the past two decades. Yet, despite being labelled “green,” large-scale renewable projects often carry significant environmental and social costs. Emerging research shows that such projects can lead to the exploitation of fragile ecosystems and the marginalization of communities whose livelihoods depend on them.

Against this backdrop, the study examines the development of large-scale solar projects in India, focusing on the proposed 13-gigawatt solar park in Changthang, Ladakh. It explores the complex interplay between state and non-state narratives that frame the project as a symbol of progress and national development, while also documenting local perceptions of the Changpa pastoralists whose grazing lands and migration routes may be directly affected.

By engaging with a range of stakeholders, the study challenges the binary of a “monolithic state” versus “powerless communities” and instead highlights the nuances of negotiation, resistance, and adaptation. It further questions the dominant discourse of “development for the greater good,” urging a closer look at how such narratives unfold in ecologically sensitive and socially unique contexts like Changthang. Preliminary insights reveal mixed responses—some stakeholders emphasize the project’s economic and energy potential, while others voice concern over its ecological and cultural impacts. The study underscores the importance of ensuring that India’s renewable energy transition remains socially just and locally grounded.