Ecological risk in the Tibetan Plateau and influencing urbanization factors

•Ecological risk in Qinghai is gradually increasing, making it the high-risk area.•Ecological risk in the plateau has significant positive spatial correlation.•Haixi, Haidong and Lhasa are the core high-risk areas, especially Haidong.•Urbanization has exacerbated ecological risk in the Tibetan Plateau.•Population plays the primary role among these factors.