Delegation of exiled Tibetans at Copenhagen

A delegation of exiled Tibetans is attending for the first time the UN's climate change meet at Copenhagen to draw attention of the world to environmental problems in Tibet.

A two-member exiled Tibetan delegation has gone to participate in world's NGOs meet on climate change at Copenhagen, secretary of Tibetan government-in-exile information department, Thubten Samphel said today.

The delegation comprises Tenzin Norbu and Chokyi, the two experts from Tibetan environment and development department, he said. They will be assisted by Tibetan NGOs the world over, he added.

Tibet, the world's highest plateau, is known as the earth's third pole because it has more freshwater stored as glacial ice than any other region, except the North and South poles.

The majority of the plateau's 40,000 glaciers are melting and altering the water supplies of 10 major rivers, including Brahmaputra, Satluj, Indus and yellow river, originating from Tibet and going into as many downstream countries, Samphel said, citing recent studies.