Autonomy and pluriversal energy futures in Ladakh, India

In Ladakh, a trans-Himalayan region of India, two drastically opposite visions of energy transition are colliding head-on. The first is a grassroots, indigenous approach that emphasises on low-impact and socioecologically just energy practices, meant primarily for local consumption. The other is a government and corporate driven, technocratic vision pushing for large-scale energy infrastructure and critical mineral mining, to supply energy to high-consumption areas outside Ladakh. At the heart of this conflict lies the issue of governance and democracy, decision-making regarding ‘development’ and the use of land and local resources. Since early 2023, drawing on a longer history of struggles, a movement for autonomy, constitutional safeguards and statehood for Ladakh has intensified. The top-down and large-scale energy projects planned for the region have been challenged in this movement. The hope is that autonomy would empower locals to control their lands and resources and steer their futures, including those related to energy. Analysing these protests, we argue that constitutional safeguards and autonomy are essential for protecting and promoting socioecologically just energy practices. The demand for autonomy challenges the extractive view of Ladakh as a peripheral sacrifice zone for modern energy needs. Instead, it could be the basis for promoting local pluriversal technologies, low-impact lifestyles and democratically run and managed energy systems. At the same time, Ladakhis have to deal with internal contestations regarding visions of ‘development’ and prosperity.