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Abstract China is undergoing an extensive hydropower development, but the magnitude of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions risk to reservoirs is not well known. Electricity generation from hydropower is a challenging issue when it comes to sustainable development. In this study, the data on Chinese hydropower reservoirs (n = 12) were collected from the literature and is used as in input to Greenhouse Gas Risk Assessment Tool (GRAT) to predict long-term GHG (CO 2 & CH 4) risk to the hydropower reservoirs and its associated lifecycle GHG emissions (GHG-LCA). The model predicted that till recently (i.e., year 2018) the hydropower reservoirs found under medium risk (i.e., 109 < CO 2 ≤ 628 and 3 < CH 4 ≤ 45 mg·m−2·d−1) which will reduce slowly over a period of 100 years. Out of 12 hydropower reservoirs studied, TGR presently under high risk of CH 4 (i.e., 47 mg·m−2·d−1) and medium CO 2 risk. Therefore, assessment is required to know the magnitude of CH 4 and its effect on regional climate so that mitigation measures could be taken in advance. The carbon emissions as CO 2 eq of the studied reservoirs are found as 134.69 ± 225.23 Gg yr−1, with a large share from CH 4 emission. The associated life cycle GHG emissions are also estimated as 0.06 ± 0.09 gCO 2 eq·kWh−1, which is higher than the global estimates (i.e. 0.015 gCO 2 eq·kWh−1). Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Electricity generation from hydropower is a challenging issue when it comes to sustainable development. • This study predict long-term GHG risk to the Chinese hydropower reservoirs and its associated life cycle emissions. • The carbon emissions as CO 2 eq of the studied reservoirs are found as 134.69 ± 225.23 Gg yr-1, with large share from CH 4 emission. • The associated life cycle GHG emissions are also estimated as 0.06±0.09 gCO 2 eq.kWh−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]