Accessibility: How to make Tibet more accessible by air, road and rail, and thus increase – in terms of numbers and speed – the transport of people and goods into and out of the region, without causing damage to the environment? Industries and enterprises – with "green" ones of course being desirable – will be persuaded to set up in Tibet if they can more easily bring in materials and send out their finished products. More visitors can boost the local economy and income levels, as can the ability to export locally-produced agricultural produce. Also, as income levels in Tibet rise, so will the demand for goods and commodities from outside. Are railways the most environmentally-friendly way to connect Tibet to the rest of China, and to South Asia?

Modernization: In view of its "fragile" eco-system and limited accessibility, Tibet must act carefully in choosing those areas where it plans to develop and modernize. Elsewhere in China and the rest of the world, industrialization has been the key to modernization. Tibet must decide whether to go ahead with the full-scale mining of its valuable mineral reserves, and if it chooses to do so, it must proceed in the most environmentally-friendly, sustainable way possible. Information technology is one area where there may be scope for development, as long as communication and accessibility to the region can be improved. Traditional handicrafts and medicines are already thriving sectors. And there is obvious scope for development by the green food and beverages industry. Organic approaches to agriculture are well-established. Greenhouses are becoming more widespread, as are other approaches to cultivation that are resistant to the extremes of climate. Water, green foods, and so on… Tibet is a region associated with purity of Nature, and pure, naturally-grown foods have an obvious appeal to health-conscious consumers.

Tourism: The challenge is to tap into the massive economic potential of increased tourism while, at the same time, ensuring that no harm is done to the very attractions people come to experience – the uniquely spectacular scenery of pristine snow-covered mountains, clear lakes and un-spoilt grassland, and the spiritual and mystical appeal of the religious institutions in Lhasa and elsewhere. Local, family-run inns are a good example of how ordinary Tibetans can benefit from tourism, without the authorities having to commit to large-scale development projects. Ecotourism is very much a promising way forward.

Climate: Tibet is highly vulnerable to environmental influences from outside. The melting of glaciers caused by global warming poses a serious problem, and yet the region still faces a problem with water supplies. Whereas in the past Mother Nature looked after herself, these days doing nothing is not an option for Tibet. Development is obviously a priority, and development that is "green" is certainly desirable. Yet proactive measures are essential not just to ensure that development isn‘t harmful and in fact benefits the environment, but simply to combat the effects of past development within the region and outside, that has impacted Tibet.

(Michael Harrold, Senior editor of CCTV)