E
Sustainable Hydropower
The water-energyclimate «nexus» and freshwater ecosystems in the
Western Balkans
Angela Klauschen
WWF International
Mediterranean Programme
EEA Hydropower Workshop
Lljubljana, 11-13 February 2013

XX-XX Month, Year in the Western Balkans?
• Additional information can run
– What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?

1. What are the main implications of water-energyclimate nexus in the Western Balkans?

1. What are the main implications of water-energyclimate nexus in the Western Balkans?
 Increased incentives to the development of hydropower globally
 Growing pressure and impacts of water allocation (agriculture food / biofuels, cooling water for energy production, urban demand, industry, etc.)
 Both non-consumptive and consumptive use with significant impacts: economic, social and environmental
  Massive losses in freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services

1. What are the main implications of water-energyclimate nexus in the Western Balkans?
 Climate change is a fact
 Climate change increases pressure and uncertainty
 Climate change will increase precipitation variability, temperature, extreme events
(floods, droughts)
 Climate change has its most severe effects on freshwater systems: runoff, extreme events, water supply, freshwater ecosystems

1. What are the main implications of water-energyclimate nexus in the Western Balkans?
In the Western
Balkans, climate change will entail:
- decreases in water discharge
- by up to 25%
- by 2070

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?
Hydropower is powerful
 as a renewable energy
 as a potentially sustainable energy
 as a threat to freshwater ecosystems

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?
 Rising energy demand for development purposes
 Some countries’ energy supply relies for up to 80% on hydropower (i.e.
Albania)
 Hydropower potential of rivers not yet ‘exhausted’
 Strong investor interest/ activity in the region (i.e.
WB, EBRD) supporting dam construction

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?
Hydropower again fashionable as a «clean» energy solution and as water storage + flood retention infrastructure
Hydropower seen as a viable option for energy security and even to increase income through energy exports to neighbouring countries

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?
On the other side...
- very pristine, biodiverse freshwater ecosystems
- but fragile and complex due to karstic nature of the area
- highly sensitive to climate change

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?
Biodiversity Loss
(State)
Threats
(Pressure)
Root Causes
(Drivers)
•
•
Changing hydrological and flow regimes due to CC
• Water resources overexploitation
• Drying out of wetlands
• Fragmentation of river systems
• Water infrastructure development, water regulation
• Loss of freshwater species
• Wetland reclamation for agriculture
Changing natural processes
• Industrial, domestic, agricultural pollution
• Increased agricultural production for domestic markets
• Industry and tourism development
• Increased energy demand
(nationally and internationally)
• Lack or not enforced institutional setting for
IRBM/IWRM
• Insufficient systems of PAs

2. How will the nexus affect freshwater ecosystems in the Western Balkans?
Livansko Polje
Hutovo Blato
Lake Skadar

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?

Sustainable hydropower for healthy ecosystems and water security

Envisioning a sustainable, renewable energy future by 2050

„Soft“ infrastructure vs hard infrastructure for adaptation to climate change

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?
Some planning principles:
 Preserve critical natural assets , free-flowing rivers the «Amazon» of Europe -, precious wetlands and related ecosystem services from development → define zoning criteria and create no-go areas, choose dam sites accordingly
 Assess needs and best options
→ use SEAs, master planning and sectoral policy integration
 Avoid cumulative impacts of infrastructure on one river/ ecosystem → plan wisely using basin planning tools (IRBM, WFD,
SEAs)

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?
Some technical measures:
 Minimize environmental impacts through hard mitigation measures → include e.g. fishladders, special intake towers in dams to be built/refurbished
 Respect natural flow regime needs of ecosystems (water quantity, quality, timing, temperature + sediments) → implement environmental flows when designing and operating dams, avoid hydro-peaking
 Give priority to rehabilitation and refurbishing of existing infrastructure for increased energy output and improved environmental standards

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?
Some ideas for fair and inclusive decision-making:
 Provide credible information to the public & involve stakeholders to show that the planned infrastructure is the best option → implement WFD, SEA, Aarhus Convention provisions
 Make sure all parts of society , incl. downstream users, are better off with than without the project → conduct cost/ benefit analysis, SEAs, EIAs, etc.
 When in a transboundary context , countries sharing water basins in which new infrastructure is planned, should comply with the Espoo Conv., Kiev Prot., Aarhus Conv., UNECE
Water Conv.
 Before approving loans/financial support , IFIs and donors should screen projects against their environmental standards
(e.g. EU, WB performance standards, Equator Principles )

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?
WWF's Mediterranean Programme works:
 in cooperation with its network, local NGOs, regional partner organisations (Transparency Int'l, GWP) and other stakeholders (EU, farmers, fishermen), independent experts
 to influence key decision-makers among water and energy utilities, international hydropower sector, IFIs, to adopt a sustainable approach to hydropower in the region
 by providing scientific information and capacity building , reminding commitments and legal requirements , allowing discussion and trust building, etc.
 to ultimately reach common understanding on sustainable hydropower in the region that works for people and nature

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?
- Energy can be sustainable by 2050
- Mix of renewables and energy efficiency
– no nuclear, no conventional fuels (coal, oil, gas) but some biomass and ...
- Hydropower part of the energy mix, but limited increase
- Need to look at real needs reg. energy generation
- Need for change in consumption patterns
(e.g. meat) and change habits (reduce footprint)

3. What solutions does WWF propose to preserve freshwater ecosystems in the context of the nexus?
- Freshwater ecosystems often able to adapt to changing climate
- high natural resilience , resistant to extreme events
provide «adaptation» services such as flood protection (buffer zones), water purification and storage = «soft» infrastructure
- hard infrastructure too rigid , usually restricts or eliminates some of this natural resilience
- Soft or “green” infrastructure can help combine control of water resources, restore flow regimes, rebuild natural climate resilience

www.panda.org/mediterranean
© 2010, WWF. All photographs used in this presentation are copyright protected and courtesy of the WWF-Canon Global Photo Network and the respective photographers.

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