Report of the World Commission on Dams

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams Why a World Commission on Dams ? In response to escalating conflicts over the role of dams in development, all constituents came together to establish the Commission

Dam projects increasingly questioned … affected populations strongly oppose damsaffected populations strongly oppose dams proponents point to urgent development demandsproponents point to urgent development demands opponents point to adverse impactsopponents point to adverse impacts uprisings against globalizationuprisings against globalization little space for constructive dialoguelittle space for constructive dialogue

Purposes of large dams Hydropower Irrigation Water supply Flood control Multipurpose

Types 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.

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams By 1925, falling water generated 40% of electric power. Today, large dams (15 m +) generate 19% of electricity. Hydro production capacity has grown 15 x. Fossil fuel use has risen so rapidly that currently, hydroelectric only supplies one-quarter of electrical generation. One-third of world’s countries rely on hydropower for more than half their electricity supply. Hydropower

Irrigation: 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 supplies Water supplies freshwater withdrawals doubled in 50 yearsfreshwater withdrawals doubled in 50 years 1 billion lack freshwater & 2 billion lack electricity1 billion lack freshwater & 2 billion lack electricity competition for water increasingcompetition for water increasing aquatic ecosystems are declining & wetlands have been lostaquatic ecosystems are declining & wetlands have been lost

Major investments … 45,000 large dams worldwide45,000 large dams worldwide 2 dams commissioned per day in1970s2 dams commissioned per day in1970s total investment exceeds $2 trilliontotal investment exceeds $2 trillion $40 billion expenditure per year at peak$40 billion expenditure 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 Number Of Dams s

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams Dam Drawbacks to Human Communities Human Displacement Flooding of Cultural Sites (Archeological and Modern) Social disruption Cost overruns Socio-economic centralization

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams Dam Drawbacks to the Environment Ecosystem Destruction Fish Blockage and Wildlife Losses Large-Scale Flooding Due to Dam Failures Sedimentation and Salinity Herbicide and Other Toxic Contamination Evaporative Losses Nutrient Flow Retardation Release of greenhouse gasses

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams Dam Alternatives Low-Head Hydropower - Extract energy from small headwater dams. Run-of-River Flow - Submerged directly in stream and usually do not require dam or diversion structure. Micro-Hydro Generators - Small versions designed to supply power to single homes.

WCD 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 Economic and financial under-performanceEconomic and financial under-performance Significant impacts on riverine & downstream ecosystemsSignificant impacts on riverine & downstream ecosystems Heavy toll on affected communitiesHeavy toll on affected communities Alternatives often existAlternatives often exist Lack of complianceLack of compliance

Significant contribution… 19 percent of electricity from hydropower – more than 50% in 63 countries19 percent of electricity from hydropower – more than 50% in 63 countries dams support 30-40% of irrigated area & 12-16% of global food productiondams support 30-40% of irrigated area & 12-16% of global food production 12% of all dams have a water supply function12% of all dams have a water supply function 75 countries have dams for flood control75 countries have dams for flood control Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

irrigation – almost half have under-performed irrigation – almost half have under-performed …opportunities for efficiency gains …opportunities for efficiency gains hydropower – on average met expectations but considerable variabilityhydropower – on average met expectations but considerable variability flood control – dams have attenuated floods, but some increased vulnerabilityflood control – dams have attenuated floods, but some increased vulnerability physical sustainability – safetyphysical sustainability – safety improving, but dams are improving, but dams are aging and costs rising …loss of storage, 0.5 to 1.0% per year Predicted vs actual generation TWh Kariba Predicted Considerable number have fallen below targets… Actual

Economic & financial under-performance… average cost overruns of over 50%average cost overruns of over 50% 50% in survey with one year or more delay50% in survey with one year or more delay cost recovery in hydropower but not irrigationcost recovery in hydropower but not irrigation poor economic and financial results from irrigationpoor economic and financial results from irrigation mixed results for hydropowermixed results for hydropower

Significant impacts on riverine & downstream ecosystems… loss of riverine & terrestrial biodiversityloss of riverine & terrestrial biodiversity adverse impacts on livelihoods in floodplainsadverse impacts on livelihoods in floodplains 67% of ecosystem changes in survey are negative67% of ecosystem changes in survey are negative poor record of ecosystem mitigationpoor record of ecosystem mitigation some reservoirs have created habitats for biodiversitysome reservoirs have created habitats for biodiversity reservoirs emit green-house gasesreservoirs emit green-house gases

Heavy toll on affected communities… estimated million physically displacedestimated million physically displaced significant number of others affectedsignificant number of others affected failure to adequately recognise & respond to those affectedfailure to adequately recognise & respond to those affected negative impacts fall disproportionately on disadvantagednegative impacts fall disproportionately on disadvantaged inequity is not addressed in ‘balance sheet’ approachinequity is not addressed in ‘balance sheet’ approach

Alternatives often exist… reduce demand by increasing end-use efficiencyreduce demand by increasing end-use efficiency defer new supply by enhancing supply & conveyance efficiencydefer new supply by enhancing supply & conveyance efficiency extend life and performance through improved land & water managementextend life and performance through improved land & water management promote alternative supply options, including small-scale & locally appropriate approachespromote alternative supply options, including small-scale & locally appropriate approaches Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

Lack of compliance… weak regulatory frameworks & lack of enforcementweak regulatory frameworks & lack of enforcement little public participation & scrutinylittle public participation & scrutiny top down decision-making, often politically motivatedtop down decision-making, often politically motivated past conflicts remain unresolved with no legal recoursepast conflicts remain unresolved with no legal recourse vested interests in favour of large infrastructurevested interests in favour of large infrastructure no incentives or sanctionsno incentives or sanctions

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams What did the Commission find from the knowledge base ? Dams have delivered considerable benefits In too many cases the price paid to secure those benefits has been unacceptable and often unnecessary

Unprecedented response to the controversy … WCD created through unanimous agreementWCD created through unanimous agreement broad based mandate to review development effectiveness & assess alternatives…broad based mandate to review development effectiveness & assess alternatives… … and develop internationally acceptable criteria and guidelines address global problems through local understandingaddress global problems through local understanding WCD’s authority and credibility rests on the diversity of the Commissioners which was a guiding theme throughout its inclusive, transparent and participatory work program.WCD’s authority and credibility rests on the diversity of the Commissioners which was a guiding theme throughout its inclusive, transparent and participatory work program.

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams Who was the Commission ? Commission ? Kader AsmalLakshmi Chand Jain Donald BlackmoreJoji Cariño Jan VeltropGöran Lindahl Judy Henderson Deborah Moore Achim Steiner José Goldemberg Medha PatkarThayer Scudder

Inclusive, Participatory & Transparent … full range of perspectives – civil society to governments, private sector to NGOs, financiers to foundationsfull range of perspectives – civil society to governments, private 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 studies on website

The Way Forward Move beyond the simple “balance –sheet approach”…Move beyond the simple “balance –sheet approach”… …to shared values, objectives and goals Internationally accepted norms are basis for WCD recommendationsInternationally accepted norms are basis for WCD recommendations Adopt a rights and risks approachAdopt a rights and risks approach Define whose rights and what risksDefine whose rights and what risks

Move beyond the simple “balance-sheet” approach that… trades off losses and gains between groupstrades off losses and gains between groups impoverishes some peopleimpoverishes some people excludes people and limits awarenessexcludes people and limits awareness overlooks sustainability aspectsoverlooks sustainability aspects induces conflict and higher costsinduces conflict and higher costs Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

Towards shared values, objectives & goals… equityequity efficiencyefficiency participatory decision-makingparticipatory decision-making sustainabilitysustainability AccountabilityAccountability

Define whose rights & what risks… Risks Move beyond considering voluntary risk takers to include involuntary risk bearersMove beyond considering voluntary risk takers to include involuntary risk bearers Rights No party’s rights should extinguish another’sNo party’s rights should extinguish another’s Where rights compete – negotiated agreements are neededWhere rights compete – negotiated agreements are needed

Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams Turning Conflict Into Consensus Gain public acceptanceGain public acceptance Assess optionsAssess options Address existing damsAddress existing dams Sustain rivers and livelihoodsSustain rivers and livelihoods Recognize entitlements and share benefitsRecognize entitlements and share benefits Ensure complianceEnsure compliance Share rivers across boundariesShare rivers across boundaries Seven Strategic priorities

Gaining public acceptance… dams affect existing rights & create wide range of risksdams affect existing rights & create wide range of risks opportunities exist for achieving a higher level of equityopportunities exist for achieving a higher level of equity recognise rights of indigenous & tribal peoplesrecognise rights of indigenous & tribal peoples achieve outcomes through binding formal agreementsachieve outcomes through binding formal agreements Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

failure to adequately define needs & assess options led to disputefailure to adequately define needs & assess options led to dispute an early and open examination of options can avoid poor projectsan early and open examination of options can avoid poor projects raise the significance of social & environmental aspectsraise the significance of social & environmental aspects increase the effectiveness of existing systems as a priorityincrease the effectiveness of existing systems as a priority Comprehensive options assessment… Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

Address existing dams… most dams that will operate in the 21 st century already existmost dams that will operate in the 21 st century already exist considerable scope exists for improving benefitsconsiderable scope exists for improving benefits remedy outstanding social issuesremedy outstanding social issues …enhance mitigation, restoration & enhancement of ecosystems use licenses to formalize operating agreementsuse licenses to formalize operating agreements

Sustain rivers and livelihoods… rivers support millions of livelihoodsrivers support millions of livelihoods dams cause significant and often irreversible effects on ecosystemsdams cause significant and often irreversible effects on ecosystems value rivers, ecosystems & endangered speciesvalue rivers, ecosystems & endangered species emphasise avoidance of impactsemphasise avoidance of impacts maintain ecosystem integrity through environmental flowsmaintain ecosystem integrity through environmental flows

Recognize entitlements & share benefits … many people displaced - many more unrecognisedmany people displaced - many more unrecognised including those who depend on a river’s resourcesincluding those who depend on a river’s resources recognise rights and assess risks as a basis for negotiationsrecognise rights and assess risks as a basis for negotiations agree legally enforceable entitlementsagree legally enforceable entitlements adversely affected people become first among beneficiariesadversely affected people become first among beneficiaries

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 commitments to people and the environmentneed a compliance plan covering all commitments 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 boundaries… conflicts over transboundary rivers due to power imbalanceconflicts over transboundary rivers due to power 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 consistent policies for financing agenciesencourage consistent policies for financing agencies Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

Dams in the pipeline - it’s not too late Feasibility - assess all options - gain public acceptance - gain public acceptance Design - prepare Compliance Plan - contractualize benefit sharing - contractualize benefit sharing - determine environmental flow - determine environmental flow Construction - formalize commitments Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams

Improved outcomes for nation, affected people & the environment… respecting human rightsrespecting human rights meeting development needs for water, food & energymeeting development needs for water, food & energy sustainable resource usesustainable resource use Development opportunities for all by..

The WCD has … conducted first comprehensive review of performanceconducted first comprehensive review of performance focused on options and compliancefocused on options and compliance shown that conflict is not inevitableshown that conflict is not inevitable promoted a rights, risks approach to negotiate outcomespromoted a rights, risks approach to negotiate outcomes shown that common ground can be reachedshown that common ground can be reached

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

Readings for discussion (pro and con): INDIA (Narmada Valley) CHINA (Three Gorges) SLOVAKIA (Gabcikovo)