Report of the World Commission on Dams
www.dams.org
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
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Dam projects increasingly questioned …
• affected populations
strongly oppose dams
• proponents point to
urgent development
demands
• opponents point to
adverse impacts
• uprisings against
globalization
• little 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, multiannual 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.
Hydropower
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.
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
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
• freshwater withdrawals doubled in 50 years
• 1 billion lack freshwater &
2 billion lack electricity
• competition for water increasing
• aquatic ecosystems are declining
& wetlands have been lost
Major investments …
Number Of Dams
6 000
• 45,000 large dams worldwide
4 000
• 2 dams commissioned
per day in1970s
• total investment exceeds
$2 trillion
• $40 billion expenditure
per year at peak
2 000
0
1900
• estimated 40 – 80 million people displaced
• flow in 60% of world’s rivers affected
1990s
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.
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
WCD Findings
• Dams have made a significant contribution
• A considerable number have fallen below targets
• Economic and financial under-performance
• Significant impacts on riverine &
downstream ecosystems
• Heavy toll on affected communities
• Alternatives often exist
• Lack of compliance
Significant contribution…
• 19 percent of electricity
from hydropower
– more than 50% in 63 countries
• dams support 30-40% of irrigated
area & 12-16% of global food
production
• 12% of all dams have a
water supply function
• 75 countries have dams for
flood control
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Considerable number have fallen below targets…
•
irrigation – almost half have under-performed
…opportunities for efficiency gains
• hydropower – on average met expectations but
considerable variability
• flood control – dams have attenuated floods, but some
increased vulnerability
Kariba
• physical sustainability – safety
improving, but dams are
TWh
Predicted vs actual generation
10
Predicted
aging and costs rising
…loss of storage, 0.5 to 1.0%
per year
6
Actual
0
1960
2000
Economic & financial under-performance…
• average cost overruns of
over 50%
• 50% in survey with one
year or more delay
• cost recovery in
hydropower but not
irrigation
• poor economic and
financial results from
irrigation
• mixed results for
hydropower
Significant impacts on riverine
& downstream ecosystems…
• loss of riverine &
terrestrial biodiversity
• adverse impacts on
livelihoods in floodplains
• 67% of ecosystem changes
in survey are negative
• poor record of ecosystem mitigation
• some reservoirs have created habitats for
biodiversity
• reservoirs emit green-house gases
Heavy toll on affected communities…
• estimated 40-80 million physically displaced
• significant number of others affected
• failure to adequately
recognise & respond to
those affected
• negative impacts fall
disproportionately on
disadvantaged
• inequity is not addressed in ‘balance sheet’
approach
Alternatives often exist…
• reduce demand by increasing end-use efficiency
• defer new supply by enhancing supply &
conveyance efficiency
• extend life and performance through improved
land & water management
• promote 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 enforcement
• little public participation & scrutiny
• top down decision-making, often politically
motivated
• past conflicts remain unresolved with no legal
recourse
• vested interests in favour of large infrastructure
• no incentives or sanctions
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
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Unprecedented response to the controversy …
• WCD created through unanimous agreement
• broad based mandate to review development effectiveness &
assess alternatives…
… and develop internationally acceptable criteria
and guidelines
• address 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.
Who was the
Commission ?
Kader Asmal
Lakshmi Chand Jain
Donald Blackmore
Joji Cariño
Jan Veltrop
Thayer Scudder
Deborah Moore
José Goldemberg
Judy Henderson
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Medha Patkar
Göran Lindahl
Achim Steiner
Inclusive, Participatory & Transparent …
• full range of perspectives – civil society to governments,
private sector to NGOs,
financiers to foundations
• outreach through work program and networks
• extensive review process
• WCD Forum as a reference point
• draft studies on website www.dams.org
The Way Forward
• Move beyond the simple
“balance –sheet approach”…
…to shared values, objectives and goals
• Internationally accepted norms are basis
for WCD recommendations
• Adopt a rights and risks approach
• Define whose rights and what risks
Move beyond the simple “balance-sheet”
approach that…
• trades off losses and gains between groups
• impoverishes some people
• excludes people and limits awareness
• overlooks sustainability aspects
• induces conflict and higher costs
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Towards shared values, objectives & goals…
• equity
• efficiency
• participatory decision-making
• sustainability
• Accountability
Define whose rights & what risks…
Rights
• No party’s rights should extinguish another’s
• Where rights compete – negotiated agreements
are needed
Risks
• Move beyond considering voluntary risk takers
to include involuntary risk bearers
Turning Conflict Into Consensus
Seven Strategic priorities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Gain public acceptance
Assess options
Address existing dams
Sustain rivers and livelihoods
Recognize entitlements and share benefits
Ensure compliance
Share rivers across boundaries
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Gaining public acceptance…
• dams affect existing rights & create wide range of risks
• opportunities exist for achieving a higher level
equity
of
• recognise rights of indigenous & tribal peoples
• achieve outcomes through binding formal agreements
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Comprehensive options
assessment…
• failure to adequately define
needs & assess options led to
dispute
• an early and open examination
of options can avoid poor
projects
• raise the significance of social
& environmental aspects
• increase the effectiveness of
existing systems as a priority
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Address existing dams…
• most dams that will operate in the
21st century already exist
• considerable scope exists for
improving benefits
• remedy outstanding social issues
…enhance mitigation, restoration &
enhancement of ecosystems
• use licenses to formalize
operating agreements
Sustain rivers and livelihoods…
• rivers support millions of livelihoods
• dams cause significant and often
irreversible effects on ecosystems
• value rivers, ecosystems & endangered
species
• emphasise avoidance
of impacts
• maintain ecosystem
integrity through
environmental flows
Recognize entitlements & share benefits …
• many people displaced - many
more unrecognised
• including those who depend on a
river’s resources
• recognise rights and assess risks
as a basis for negotiations
• agree legally enforceable
entitlements
• adversely affected people become
first among beneficiaries
Ensure compliance …
• many policies and guidelines exist..
• but often a failure to fulfill obligations
• need a compliance plan covering all commitments to
people and the environment
• introduce initiatives to reduce corruption
• develop incentive framework for compliance
Share rivers across boundaries…
• conflicts over transboundary rivers due to
power imbalance
• experience suggests disputes can be resolved
• endorse the UN Convention principles
• go beyond sharing water - to sharing the benefits
• encourage 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
Design
- prepare Compliance Plan
- contractualize benefit sharing
- determine environmental flow
Construction - formalize commitments
Dams and Development - Report of the World Commission on Dams
Improved outcomes for nation, affected people &
the environment…
Development opportunities for all by..
• respecting human rights
• meeting development needs for water, food &
energy
• sustainable resource use
The WCD has …
• conducted first comprehensive review of performance
• focused on options and compliance
• shown that conflict is not inevitable
• promoted a rights, risks approach to negotiate
outcomes
• shown 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)