Report of the World Commission on Dams .

RReport of the eport of the WWorld orld CCommisommisssion on ion on DDamsams

www.dams.orgwww.dams.org

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

Why a World Commission on Dams ?Why a World Commission on Dams ?

In response to escalating conflicts In response to escalating conflicts over the role of dams in over the role of dams in

development, all constituents development, all constituents came together to establish came together to establish

the Commission the Commission

Dam projects increasingly questioned …Dam projects increasingly questioned …

• affected populations affected populations strongly oppose damsstrongly oppose dams

• proponents point to urgent proponents point to urgent development demandsdevelopment demands

• opponents point to opponents point to adverse adverse impactsimpacts

• uprisings against uprisings against globalization globalization

• little space for little space for constructive dialogueconstructive dialogue

Purposes of large damsPurposes of large dams

• Hydropower

• Irrigation

• Water supply

• Flood control

• Multipurpose

Types of large damsTypes of large dams

• Reservoir-type storage– impound water behind the dam

for seasonal,annual and, in some cases, multi-annual storage and regulation of the river.

• Run-of-river dams – weirs and barrages, and

diversion dams create a hydraulic head in the river to divert some portion of the river flows to a canal or power station.


By 1925, falling water generated 40% of electric By 1925, falling water generated 40% of electric power. Today, large dams (15 m +) generate 19% power. Today, large dams (15 m +) generate 19% of electricity.of electricity.

Hydro production capacity has grown 15 x.Hydro production capacity has grown 15 x.Fossil fuel use has risen so rapidly that currently, hydroelectric Fossil fuel use has risen so rapidly that currently, hydroelectric only supplies one-quarter of electrical generation.only supplies one-quarter of electrical generation.

One-third of world’s countries rely on hydropower forOne-third of world’s countries rely on hydropower for

more than half their electricity supply.more than half their electricity supply.

HydropowerHydropower

Irrigation: The Aral SeaIrrigation: The Aral Sea

• Once the 4th largest inland body of water in the world

A series of dams was built to irrigate cotton.

• Aral Sea reduced to about 25% of its 1960 volume, quadrupled the salinity of the lake and wiped out the fishery. Pollutants became airborne as dust, causing significant local health problems.

• The environmental damage caused has been estimated at $1.25 -$2.5 billion a year.

Water suppliesWater supplies

• freshwater withdrawals doubled in 50 yearsfreshwater withdrawals doubled in 50 years

• 1 billion lack freshwater & 1 billion lack freshwater & 2 billion lack electricity 2 billion lack electricity

• competition for water increasingcompetition for water increasing

• aquatic ecosystems are declining aquatic ecosystems are declining & wetlands have been lost & wetlands have been lost

Major investments …Major investments …

• 45,000 large dams worldwide45,000 large dams worldwide

• 2 dams commissioned 2 dams commissioned per day in1970s per day in1970s

• total investment exceeds total investment exceeds $2 trillion $2 trillion

• $40 billion expenditure $40 billion expenditure per year at peak per year at peak

• estimated 40 – 80 million people displacedestimated 40 – 80 million people displaced

• flow in 60% of world’s rivers affectedflow in 60% of world’s rivers affected

2 000

0

4 000

6 000Number Of Dams

19001990s


Dam Drawbacks to Human CommunitiesDam Drawbacks to Human Communities

Human DisplacementHuman Displacement

Flooding of Cultural SitesFlooding of Cultural Sites(Archeological and Modern)(Archeological and Modern)

Social disruptionSocial disruption

Cost overrunsCost overruns

Socio-economic centralizationSocio-economic centralization


Dam Drawbacks to the EnvironmentDam Drawbacks to the Environment

Ecosystem DestructionEcosystem Destruction

Fish Blockage and Wildlife LossesFish Blockage and Wildlife Losses

Large-Scale Flooding Due to Dam FailuresLarge-Scale Flooding Due to Dam Failures

Sedimentation and SalinitySedimentation and Salinity

Herbicide and Other Toxic ContaminationHerbicide and Other Toxic Contamination

Evaporative LossesEvaporative Losses

Nutrient Flow RetardationNutrient Flow Retardation

Release of greenhouse gassesRelease of greenhouse gasses


Dam AlternativesDam Alternatives

Low-Head HydropowerLow-Head Hydropower - Extract energy from small - Extract energy from small headwater dams.headwater dams.

Run-of-River FlowRun-of-River Flow - Submerged directly in stream - Submerged directly in stream and usually do not require dam or diversion and usually do not require dam or diversion

structure.structure.

Micro-Hydro GeneratorsMicro-Hydro Generators - Small versions designed - Small versions designed to supply power to single homes.to supply power to single homes.

WCD FindingsWCD Findings

• Dams have made a significant contributionDams have made a significant contribution

• A considerable number have fallen below targetsA considerable number have fallen below targets

• EEconomic and financial conomic and financial under-under-performanceperformance

• Significant impacts on riverine Significant impacts on riverine && downstream downstream ecosystemsecosystems

• Heavy toll on affected communitiesHeavy toll on affected communities

• AAlternatives lternatives oftenoften exist exist

• Lack ofLack of compliance compliance

Significant contribution…Significant contribution…

• 19 percent of electricity 19 percent of electricity from hydropowerfrom hydropower –– more than 50% in 63 countriesmore than 50% in 63 countries

• dams support 30-40% of irrigated dams support 30-40% of irrigated area area & & 12-16% of global food 12-16% of global food productionproduction

• 12% of all dams have a12% of all dams have a water supply functionwater supply function

• 75 countries have dams for75 countries have dams for flood control flood control

Dams and Dams and DDevelopmentevelopment - - R Report of the eport of the WWorld orld CCommisommisssion on ion on DDamsams

• irrigationirrigation – almost half have under-performed – almost half have under-performed

… …opportunities for efficiency gains opportunities for efficiency gains

• hydropowerhydropower – on average met expectations but – on average met expectations but considerable variability considerable variability

• flood controlflood control – dams have attenuated floods, but some – dams have attenuated floods, but some increased increased vulnerability vulnerability

• physical sustainabilityphysical sustainability – safety – safety

improving,improving, but dams are but dams are

aging and costs risingaging and costs rising

……loss of storage, 0loss of storage, 0.5.5 to 1.0% to 1.0% per yearper year

Predicted vs actual generationTWh

Kariba

Predicted

1960 20000

10

6

Considerable number have fallen below targets…Considerable number have fallen below targets…

Actual

Economic & financial under-performance…Economic & financial under-performance…

• average cost overruns of average cost overruns of over 50% over 50%

• 50% in survey with one 50% in survey with one year or more delayyear or more delay

• cost recovery in cost recovery in hydropower but not hydropower but not irrigationirrigation

• poor economic and poor economic and financial results from financial results from irrigationirrigation

• mixed results for mixed results for hydropowerhydropower

Significant impacts on riverine Significant impacts on riverine & downstream ecosystems… & downstream ecosystems…

• lloss of riverine oss of riverine & & terrestrial biodiversityterrestrial biodiversity

• adverse adverse impactsimpacts on on livelihoods in floodplainslivelihoods in floodplains

• 67% of ecosystem changes 67% of ecosystem changes in survey are negativein survey are negative

• ppoor record of ecosystem mitigationoor record of ecosystem mitigation

• ssome reservoirs have created habitats for biodiversity ome reservoirs have created habitats for biodiversity

• rreservoirs emit green-house gaseseservoirs emit green-house gases

Heavy toll on affected communities…Heavy toll on affected communities…

• estimated 40-80 million physically displaced estimated 40-80 million physically displaced

• significant number of othersignificant number of otherss affected affected

• failure to adequately failure to adequately recognise recognise && respond to respond to those affectedthose affected

• negative impacts fall negative impacts fall disproportionately on disproportionately on disadvantageddisadvantaged

• inequity inequity is is not not addressedaddressed inin ‘balance sheet’ ‘balance sheet’ approachapproach

Alternatives often exist…Alternatives often exist…

• reduce demand by increasingreduce demand by increasing end-use efficiency end-use efficiency

• defer new supply by enhancing supply defer new supply by enhancing supply && conveyance efficiencyconveyance efficiency

• extend life and performance through improved extend life and performance through improved land land && water water managementmanagement

• promote alternative supply options, including promote alternative supply options, including small-scale small-scale && locally appropriate approaches locally appropriate approaches


Lack of compliance…Lack of compliance…

• wweak regulatory frameworks eak regulatory frameworks && lack of enforcement lack of enforcement

• llittle public participation ittle public participation && scrutiny scrutiny

• ttop down decision-making, often politically op down decision-making, often politically motivatedmotivated

• ppast conflicts remain unresolved with no legal ast conflicts remain unresolved with no legal recourserecourse

• vvested interests in favour of large infrastructureested interests in favour of large infrastructure

• nno incentives or sanctionso incentives or sanctions


What did the Commission find from the knowledge What did the Commission find from the knowledge base ?base ?

Dams have delivered considerable Dams have delivered considerable benefits benefits

In too many cases the price paid to In too many cases the price paid to secure those benefitssecure those benefits has has

been unacceptable been unacceptable andand often unnecessary often unnecessary

Unprecedented response to the controversy …Unprecedented response to the controversy …

• WCD created through unanimous agreement WCD created through unanimous agreement

• broad based mandate to review development effectiveness & broad based mandate to review development effectiveness & assess alternatives…assess alternatives…

… … and develop internationally acceptable criteria and develop internationally acceptable criteria and guidelines and guidelines

• address global problems through local understandingaddress global problems through local understanding

• WCD’s authority and credibility rests on the diversity of the WCD’s authority and credibility rests on the diversity of the Commissioners which was a guiding theme throughout its inclusive, Commissioners which was a guiding theme throughout its inclusive, transparent and participatory work program.transparent and participatory work program.


Who was theWho was the Commission ?Commission ?

Kader Asmal Lakshmi Chand Jain

Donald Blackmore Joji Cariño

Jan Veltrop Göran Lindahl

Judy Henderson Deborah Moore

Achim Steiner

José Goldemberg

Medha PatkarThayer Scudder

Inclusive, Participatory & Transparent …Inclusive, Participatory & Transparent …

• full range of perspectives – full range of perspectives – civil society to governments, civil society to governments,

private sector to NGOs, financiers to foundationsprivate sector to NGOs, financiers to foundations

• outreach through work program and networksoutreach through work program and networks

• extensive review processextensive review process

• WCD Forum as a reference pointWCD Forum as a reference point

• draft studies on website www.dams.orgdraft studies on website www.dams.org

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward

• Move beyond the simple Move beyond the simple “balance –sheet approach”“balance –sheet approach”……

……to sto shared values, objectives hared values, objectives andand goals goals

• InternationalInternationallyly accepted norms are basis accepted norms are basis for WCD recommendationsfor WCD recommendations

• Adopt a rights Adopt a rights andand risks approach risks approach

• Define whose rights Define whose rights andand what risks what risks

Move beyond the simple “balance-sheet” Move beyond the simple “balance-sheet” approach that…approach that…

• trades off losses trades off losses andand gains between groups gains between groups

• impoverishes impoverishes some some people people

• excludes people and limitexcludes people and limitss awareness awareness

• overlooks sustainability aspectsoverlooks sustainability aspects

• induces conflict induces conflict andand higher costs higher costs


Towards shared values, objectives & goals…Towards shared values, objectives & goals…

• equityequity

• efficiencyefficiency

• participatory decision-makingparticipatory decision-making

• sustainabilitysustainability

• AccountabilityAccountability

Define whose rights & what risks…Define whose rights & what risks…

RRisksisks

• Move beyond considering voluntary risk takers Move beyond considering voluntary risk takers to include involuntary risk bearers to include involuntary risk bearers

RightsRights

• No party’s rights should extinguish another’sNo party’s rights should extinguish another’s

• Where rights compete – negotiated agreements Where rights compete – negotiated agreements are needed are needed


Turning Conflict Into ConsensusTurning Conflict Into Consensus

• Gain public acceptance Gain public acceptance

• Assess options Assess options

• Address existing damsAddress existing dams

• Sustain rivers and livelihoods Sustain rivers and livelihoods

• Recognize entitlements and share benefits Recognize entitlements and share benefits

• Ensure complianceEnsure compliance

• Share rivers across boundariesShare rivers across boundaries

Seven Strategic prioritiesSeven Strategic priorities

Gaining public acceptanceGaining public acceptance……

• dams affect existing rights dams affect existing rights && create create wide range of riskswide range of risks

• opportunities exist for achieving a highopportunities exist for achieving a higher er level level of of equityequity

• recognise rights of indigenous recognise rights of indigenous && tribal peoples tribal peoples

• achieve outcomes through binding formal agreementsachieve outcomes through binding formal agreements


• failure to adequately define needs failure to adequately define needs & & assess options led to assess options led to disputedispute

• an early and open examination of optionsan early and open examination of options can avoid poor can avoid poor projectsprojects

• raise the significance of social raise the significance of social & & environmental aspects environmental aspects

• increase the effectiveness of existingincrease the effectiveness of existing systems as a priority systems as a priority

Comprehensive options Comprehensive options assessmentassessment……


Address existing damsAddress existing dams……

• most dams that will operate in the most dams that will operate in the 2121stst century already exist century already exist

• considerable scope exists for considerable scope exists for improving benefits improving benefits

• remedy outstanding social issuesremedy outstanding social issues

……enhance mitigation, restoration enhance mitigation, restoration && enhancement of ecosystems enhancement of ecosystems

• use licenuse licensses to formalize operating es to formalize operating agreements agreements

Sustain rivers and livelihoodsSustain rivers and livelihoods……

• rivers support rivers support millions of millions of livelihoods livelihoods

• dams cause significant and often irreversible effects on dams cause significant and often irreversible effects on ecosystems ecosystems

• value value rivers, rivers, ecosystems ecosystems & endangered species& endangered species

• emphasise avoidance emphasise avoidance of impacts of impacts

• maintain ecosystemmaintain ecosystem integrity through integrity through environmental flows environmental flows

Recognize entitlements Recognize entitlements && share benefits share benefits ……

• many many peoplepeople displaced - many more displaced - many more ununrecognised recognised

• including including those those whowho depend on a river’s resources depend on a river’s resources

• recognise rights and assess risks recognise rights and assess risks as a basis for as a basis for negotiationsnegotiations

• agree legally enforceable entitlementsagree legally enforceable entitlements

• adversely adversely affected people affected people becomebecome first among beneficiaries first among beneficiaries

Ensure compliance Ensure compliance ……

• many policies and guidelines exist.. many policies and guidelines exist..

• but often a failure to fulfill obligationsbut often a failure to fulfill obligations

• need a compliance plan covering all commitmentsneed a compliance plan covering all commitments to people and the environment to people and the environment

• introduce initiatives to reduce corruptionintroduce initiatives to reduce corruption

• develop incentive framework for compliancedevelop incentive framework for compliance

Share rivers across boundariesShare rivers across boundaries……

• conflicts over transboundary rivers dueconflicts over transboundary rivers due to to power imbalancepower imbalance

• experience suggests disputes can be resolvedexperience suggests disputes can be resolved

• endorse the UN Convention principlesendorse the UN Convention principles

• go beyond sharing water - to sharing the benefitsgo beyond sharing water - to sharing the benefits

• encourage encourage consistent policies for financing agenciesconsistent policies for financing agencies


Dams in the pipeline - it’s not too late Dams in the pipeline - it’s not too late

FeasibilityFeasibility - assess all options - assess all options

- gain public acceptance- gain public acceptance

DesignDesign - prepare Compliance Plan - prepare Compliance Plan

- contractualize benefit sharing- contractualize benefit sharing

- determine environmental flow- determine environmental flow

ConstructionConstruction - - fformalize commitmentsormalize commitments


Improved outcomes for nation, affected people Improved outcomes for nation, affected people && the environmentthe environment……

• respecting human rightsrespecting human rights

• meeting development needs for water, food meeting development needs for water, food && energyenergy

• sustainable resource usesustainable resource use

Development opportunities for all by..Development opportunities for all by..

The WCD has The WCD has ……

• cconducted first comprehensive review of performanceonducted first comprehensive review of performance

• ffocused on options and complianceocused on options and compliance

• shown that conflict is not inevitableshown that conflict is not inevitable

• promoted promoted a a rights, risks rights, risks approach toapproach to negotiate outcomes negotiate outcomes

• shown that common ground can be reachedshown that common ground can be reached

Don’t plan, Don’t plan, build, build, protest, protest, operate, operate, decommission, decommission, propose, propose, oppose or oppose or discuss a dam discuss a dam without itwithout it

Readings for discussionReadings for discussion

(pro and con):(pro and con):

INDIA (Narmada Valley)INDIA (Narmada Valley)

CHINA (Three Gorges)CHINA (Three Gorges)

SLOVAKIA (Gabcikovo)SLOVAKIA (Gabcikovo)

Report of the World Commission on Dams .

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