10 Reasons Why Climate Initiatives Should Not Include Large Hydropower Projects

Date: 
Thursday, December 3, 2015

A Civil Society Manifesto for the Support of Real Climate Solutions 

Large hydropower projects are often propagated as a “clean and green” source of electricity by international financial institutions, national governments and other actors. They greatly benefit from instruments meant to address climate change, including carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), credits from the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds, and special financial terms from export credit agencies and green bonds. The dam industry advocates for large hydropower projects to be funded by the Green Climate Fund, and many governments boost dams as a response to climate change through national initiatives. For example, at least twelve governments with major hydropower sectors have included an expansion of hydropower generation in their reports on Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). 

Support from climate initiatives is one of the reasons why more than 3,700 hydropower dams are currently under construction and in the pipeline. Yet large hydropower projects are a false solution to climate change. They should be kept out from national and international climate initiatives for the following reasons: 

1. Particularly in tropical regions, hydropower reservoirs emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. According to a peer-reviewed study, methane from reservoirs accounts for more than 4% of all human-caused climate change – comparable to the climate impact of the aviation sector. In some cases, hydropower projects are producing higher emissions than coal-fired power plants generating the same amount of electricity. 

2. Rivers take about 200 million tons of carbon out of the atmosphere every year. In addition, the silt that rivers like the Amazon, Congo, Ganges and Mekong carry to the sea feeds plankton and absorbs large amounts of carbon. Hydropower projects and other dams impair the role of rivers to act as global carbon sinks by disrupting the transport of silt and nutrients. 

3. Hydropower dams make water and energy systems more vulnerable to climate change. Unprecedented floods are threatening the safety of dams: In the US alone, floods have caused more than 100 dams to fail since 2010. Dam building has also exacerbated flood disasters in fragile mountain areas such as Uttarakhand in India. At the same time, the increasing frequency of extreme droughts makes hydropower economically risky and has greatly affected countries from Africa to Brazil that depend on hydropower dams for most of their electricity. 

4. In contrast to most wind, solar and micro-hydropower projects, dams cause severe and often irreversible damage to critical ecosystems. Due to dam building and other factors, freshwater ecosystems have on average lost 76% of their populations since 1970 – more than marine and land-based ecosystems. Building more dams to protect ecosystems from climate change means sacrificing the planet’s arteries to protect her lungs. 

5. Large hydropower projects have serious impacts on local communities and often violate the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories, resources, governance, cultural integrity and free, prior informed consent. Dams have displaced at least 40-80 million people and have negatively affected an estimated 472 million people living downstream. The resistance of dam-affected communities has often been met with egregious human rights violations. 

6. Large hydropower projects are not always an effective tool to expand energy access for poor people. In contrast to wind, solar and micro-hydropower, large hydropower dams depend on central electric grids, which are not a cost-effective tool to reach rural populations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Himalayas. Large hydropower projects are often built to meet the demands of mining and industrial projects, despite developers' claims that the energy is intended for the poor. 

7. Even if they were a good solution in other ways, large hydropower projects would be a costly and time-consuming way to address the climate crisis. On average large dams experience cost overruns of 96% and time overruns of 44%. In comparison, wind and solar projects can be built more quickly and experience average cost overruns of less than 10%. 

8. Unlike wind and solar power, hydropower is no longer an innovative technology, and has not seen major technical breakthroughs in several decades. Unlike with solar power, climate funding for large hydropower projects will not bring about further economies of scale, and does not encourage a transfer of new technologies to Southern countries. 

9. Wind and solar power have become readily available and financially competitive, and have overtaken large hydropower in the addition of new capacity. As grids become smarter and the cost of battery storage drops, new hydropower projects are no longer needed to balance intermittent sources of renewable energy. 

10. Hydropower projects currently make up 26% of all projects registered with the CDM, and absorb significant support from other climate initiatives. Climate finance for large hydropower projects crowds out support for real solutions such as wind, solar and micro hydropower, and creates the illusion of real climate action. Including large hydropower in climate initiatives falsely appears to obliterate the need for additional real climate solutions. 

For these reasons, the following 500 organizations from 85 countries call on governments, financiers and other institutions to keep large hydropower projects out of their initiatives to address climate change. All climate and energy solutions need to respect the rights and livelihoods of local communities.

SPONSORS:

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact • Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente • Amazon Watch • Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation • Carbon Market Watch • France Liberte • International Rivers • Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement International • Oxfam International • REDLAR • Rios Vivos • Rivers Without Boundaries • South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People • Urgewald

 

CO-SIGNERS:

Afghanistan
Youth for Change Afghanistan Organization (YCAO)

Argentina
Asociación Ambientalista MayuSumaj - Asociacion Amigos de los Parques Nacionales - La Asociación Amigos de los Parques Nacionales (AAPN) - Los Verdes-FEP - Parlamento de los Pueblos Indigenas del Chaco Americano y Zicos

Armenia
EcoClub "Tapan"

Australia
Aboriginal Rights Coalition - Oxfam - Scientists for the Mekong


Austria

DKA - Finance and Trade Watch - IGLA - LeEZA - Riverwatch - WWF Austria - ZEC


Bangladesh
 Alliance for Cooperation and Legal Aid Bangladesh (ACLAB) - Awaj Foundation - Badhan Hijra Sangha (BHS) - Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (BAF) - Bangladesh Centre for Human Rights and Development (BCHRD) - Center for Bangladesh Studies (CBS) - Chittagong Hill Tracts Citizens' Committee (CHTCC) - Chittagong Hill Tracts Indigenous Jumma Association - CLEAN (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network) - Dhaka Single Women Association (DSWA) - EquityBD - JAGO NARI - Kapaeeng Foundation (KF) - Light House - Participatory Research Action Network (PRAN) - Peoples Development Community (PDC) - Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) - Rakeen Development Company - UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative) - Zabarang Kalyan Samity (ZKS)

Belgium

Flemish Centre for Indigenous Peoples - Lucas De Smedt bvba

Bolivia

Candelaria Madidi Ecologico

Brazil
AIDA - Articulação de Mulheres Brasileiras - Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil - APIB - Apremavi - Associação de Preservação do Meio Ambiente e da Vida - Associação Ambientalista Corrente Verde - Stª Mª da Vitória-Bahia - Associação de Defesa Etnoambiental - Kanindé - CNLB  - Coletivo de Mulheres de Altamira - Comissão Paroquial de Meio Ambiente (CPMA) - Caetite - CPT - Ecoa - Ecologia e Ação - Folha de Ipiíba - Forum da Amazônia Oriental - FAOR - FASE-Fundo Dema - Forum em Defesa de Altamira - Fórum Mudanças Climáticas e Justiça Social - Fundação Tocaia - Grupo Semente - ICV - Instituto Brasileiro de Análises Sociais e Econômicas (IBASE) - Instituto EQUIT - Instituto GAIA - Instituto Humanitas - Instituto Panamericano do Ambiente e Sustentabilidade (IPAN) - Instituto Socioambiental - Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB) - Movimento Munduruku Ipereg Ayu - Movimento Tapajós Vivo - Movimento Xingu Vivo Para Sempre (MXVPS) - Next Century Engineering Systems - O Grupo de Defesa da Amazônia - Operação Amazônia Nativa - OPAN - Projeto Saúde & Alegria - Uepa - UFPA 

Bulgaria

Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Burkina Faso
Centre de Documentation et de Recherche Economiques et Sociales (CEDRES)

Cambodia
Banteay Srei - Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) - Community Legal Education Center - Equitable Cambodia - Highlanders' Association (HA) - Positive Change for Cambodia (PCC) - Soriya Consulting

Cameroon
Green Development Advocates

Canada
Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network - Grand Riverkeeper Labrador, Inc. - The Lantern - Mapuche Nation Support Committee Moondi - Mercury Press International - Nols - Ontario Rivers Alliance - Presentation Sisters - St. John's - 

Chile
AIDA Agrupacion Aysen Reserva de Vida - Agrupación Cultural Wekeche - Agrupación Ecológica Altué - Amigos del Río San Rodrigo -   - Colalición Ciudadana Aysén Reserva de Vida - Chile Sustentable - Coalición Ecuménica por el Cuidado de la Creación - COMISIÓN JUSTICIA Y PAZ - Comité Pro Defensa de la Fauna y Flora (CODEFF) - Consejo de Defensa de la Patagonia Chilena (CDP) - Corporación Chile Ambiente - Corporación Privada para el Desarrollo de Aysén - Ecosistemas - Etica en los Bosques - Fiscalía de Medio Ambiente (FIMA) - Fundacion Nahuelbuta - Fundación Terram - Futaleufú Riverkeeper - Geute Conservación Sur - International Rafting Federation - Kayak River Stewards of Chile - MEC Chile - Observatorio Ciudadano - ONG FIMA - ONG Innovación, Desarrollo y Equidad - Patagonia Baker Lodge - Verdeseo

China
Green Watershed - Taiwan Associaton for Rights Advancement for Ping Pu Plains Aboriginal Peoples (TARA-Ping Pu)

Colombia
Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad - ASPROCIG - Censat Agua Viva - Fundación Cosmos - Corpoema - Instituto Latinoamericano para una Sociedad y un Derechos Alternativos (ILSA) Movimiento Rios Vivos - Movimiento Social en Defensa del Río Sogamoso

Costa Rica
Apreflofas - Asada Santa Cecila - COECOCEIBA - La Asociación Amigos de los Parques Nacionales (AAPN) - Fundación Neotrópica - Movimiento en defensa de los rios de Dota - PROAL-JAKUII (Proyectos alternativos/Pacuare) - UCR

Croatia

WWF Adria

Czech Republic

Arnika - Nature Conservation Program

Democratic Republic of Congo
Actions pour les Droits, l'Environnement et la Vie (ADEV) - La Coalition Réforme et Action Publique (CORAP) - Le Conseil Regional des Organisations Non Gouvernementales de Developpement (CRONGD)

Denmark
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)

Dominican Republic
Brigada Cimarrona Sebastián Lemba

Ecuador

Kanaka

Ethiopia
Ethiopian Human Rights Council

France
Coordination Eau Île-de-France - Fondation Danielle Mitterrand-France Libertés - International Council for the Indigenous Peoples of CHT (ICIP-CHT)

Georgia
Center of Innovative Development of Enterprises, EaP National Platform WG - Energy Efficiency Foundation - Green Alternative - Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

Germany
Afrika-Erleben - Amnesty International - Asocio de Verduloj Esperantistaj - ASW e.V. - BEMI - Bremen Dyke Association - Bund Ettenheim - Friends of the Earth - FUgE Hamm - Gegenströmung - Greenpeace - GRÜNE LIGA - Lokale Agenda - NASF - Rettet den Regenwald e. V - Regenwald-Institut - Urgewald - Verdi

Ghana

Wuntia Environmental Youth Network

Greece

BuSab - National Geographical Society of Greece


Guatemala
Biofuelwatch - Breaking the Silence Maritimes-Guatemala Solidarity Network - CERIxim, el Colectivo de Estudios Rurales Ixim - Colectivo MadreSelva - Earth Thrive - The Gaia Foundation - Greenpeace - Myriad Editions - RIOS Guatemala - TK - Unite

Guyana

Amerindian Peoples Association

Honduras

OFRANEH

Hungary

BME - Clean Air Action Group


India
Adivasi Women's Network (AWN) - Association for Promotion Sustainable Development (APSD) - Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha - Bible Hill Youth Club - Borok Peoples' Human Rights Organisation (BPHRO) - Center for Advancement of Public Understanding of Science & Technology (CAPUST) - Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) - Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO) - Clean Energy Access - CORE Manipur - Empower INDIA - Family Planning Association of India (FPA India) - Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India - Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS) - Gramya Resource Centre for Women - India Climate Justice Platform - India Network on Ethics and Climate Change - Indigenous Perspectives - Indus Consortium - INECC - Lok Shakti Abhiyan - Manthan Adhyayan Kendra - Mishing Bane Kebang - Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) - Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti - PDI - Peoples Movement for Subansiri Brahmaputra Valley - River Research Centre - SACON - Samajik Seva Sadan - Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee - Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM) - South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy - South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People - The Timbaktu Collective - The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi - ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) - VIKALP - Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan - Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF) - Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF)

Indonesia
Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN) - ECOTON - Inspirator Muda Nusantara - REDD-Monitor - Serikat Perempuan Indonesia (Indonesian Women Organization) (SERUNI) - SKEPHI  - WALHI Jawa Barat

Iran

Alpine Club of Iran

Ireland

Suir Valley Environmental Group

Israel

BGU - Dirt Bag Paddlers

Italy
COSPE - Home-Laboratory - SONIA for a Just New World (SONIA)

Japan

WWF Japan


Kazakhstan
Feminist League - "Jabagly-Manas" Mountain Club Public Association

Kenya
Coastal Aid Kenya - Friends of Lake Turkana - Indigenous Information Network (IIN) - International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests (IAITPTF) - Jamaa Resource Initiatives - Sengwer Indigenous Peoples Programme

Korea

Friends of the Earth Korea

Kyrgyzstan
Central Asia Toxic Action Network

Liberia

Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products, Tu Dres

Malaysia
#PowerShiftMsia - Borneo Project - Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS) - CLEAR (Community Led Environmental Awareness of Our River) - Communities’ Information and Communications Centre (CICOM) - Community-Led Environmental Awareness for our River (CLEAR) - Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) - Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS Trust) - Persatuan Belia Perubahan Iklim - Sarawak Citizens Movement (GASAK) - Sarawak Natives Customary Land Rights Network - SAVE Rivers Network

Mauritania
ONG Mer Bleue

Mexico
Agencia Internacional de Prensa Indígena (AIPIN) - Amigos del Rio San Rodrigo - CeIBA AC - Centro de Análisis e Investigación - Congreso Nacional de Comunicación Indígena (CNCI) - FUNDAR - Mapder - Miramontes - Otros Mundos AC - Prodefensa del Nazas, A.C. - Servicios para una Educación Alternativa

Moldova
Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers

Mongolia
Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) - Gobi Soil - OT Watch - Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition - Steps Without Borders

Mozambique

FOE Mozambique - JA! Justica Ambiental


Myanmar
Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) - Justice and Peace Commission (JPC)/Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) - Kachin Peace Network - Myanmar Green Network - Nationalities Youth Forum (NYF) - Promotion Of Indigenous and Nature Together (POINT) - Spectrum Sustainable Development Knowledge Network

Nepal
Active Society Nepal (ASN) - Ageing Nepal - Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) - Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) - Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research and Development (CIPRED) - Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ) - Indigenous Nationalities Women Youth Network (INWYN) - Jal Sarokar Manch - Kirat Chamling Association (KCA) - Kirat Chamling Language Culture Development Association (KCLCDA) - Kirat Chamling Youth Society (KCYS) - Kirat Welfare Society (KWS) - Kirat Youth Society (KYS) - Kulung Mimchha Guskham (KMG) - Lawyers' Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) - National Forum for Advocacy, Nepal (NAFAN) - Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) - Nepal Kirat Kulung Bhasa Sankskriti Utthan Sangh (NKKBSUS) - Nepal Magar Association (NMA) - People Unity Youth Society (PUYS) - SunFarmer - United Coalition of Against All Discrimination, Nepal (UCAAD) - Unity Society - Youth Awareness Society Nepal (YASN) - Youth Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, Nepal (YFIN)

Netherlands
BankTrack - Both ENDS - Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV) - River Basin Friends (NE) - V-SB (Flemish-Socialist Movement)

New Zealand

Planet Blue Hope - String Theory

Nicaragua
Centro de los Derechos del Campesino (CEDECAM) - Centro para la Autonomía y Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CADPI)

Nigeria
Commonwealth Africa Youth Leaders Forum on Sanitation & Water - Labour,Health and Human Rights Development Centre

Norway

Fivas: The Association for International Water Studies

Pakistan
Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation - DAMAAN Development Organization - Indus Consortium - The News - Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum

Panama
Alianza para la Conservacion y el Desarrollo (ACD) - AMIPILA - Centro de Incidencia Ambiental (CIAM) - FUNDICCEP

Peru
Centro de Promocion Estudios de la Mujer - Instituto Jajachupan - Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climático (MOCICC) - Remando Juntos - Paz y Esperanza

Philippines
Alyansa Tigil Mina (Alliance Against Mining) - Asia Indigenous Peoples Netowrk on Extractive Energy and Industries (AIPNEE) - Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN) - Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN) - Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) - BAI Indigenous Women's Network - Center for Women's Resources (CWR) - Cordillera Disaster Response & Development Services (CorDis RDS), Inc. - Cordillera Indigenous Peoples Legal Center (DINTEG) - Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) - International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) - KALIKASAN-People's Network for the Environment - Kalipunan ng Mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KATRIBU) - Migrante International - NGO Forum on ADB - No to Jalaur Mega Dam Project - Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) - Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples Rights (TFIP) - Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education) - Tribal Government of the Philippines

Poland

UCSC


Portugal

GEOTA-Groupo Estudos de Ordenamento do Território e Ambiente


Russia
Altai Regional Public Fund for 21st Century Altai - Amur Ecological Club Ulukitkan - Arkhangelsk Regional Youth Ecological Public Organisation (Aetas) - Association of Environmental Journalists - Biodiversity Conservation Center - Bureau for Regional Outreach Campaigns (BROC) - Buryat Regional Association on Lake Baikal - Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North (CSIPN) - Council of the All-Russian Public Organization "Socio-Ecological Union" (SEU) - ECA Green Movement - Ecological Center "Dront" - Environmental Watch on North Caucasus - Great Baikal Trail Association-Buryatia - Green Branch - Green Cross - Green Don - Institute of General and Experimental Biology SB RAS - Interregional Environmental Organization ECA - Interregional Non-Governmental Environmental Foundation ISAR-Siberia - IPEN/Eco-Accord - ISAR-Siberia - Kola Biodiversity Conservation Center - Krasnoyarsk Regional Environmental Public Organization "Plotina" - Magadan Centre of Environment - NGO Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus - Public Ecological Centre of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) - Public Environmental Monitoring Network of The Sakha Republic - Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition - Russian Ecological Congress - Socio-Ecological Union (SEU) International - The Third Planet from the Sun

Senegal
ARCADE - Baegny Coast Waterkeeper - Lumière Synergie pour le Développement

Slovenia

Leeway Collective - WWF

South Africa

African Paddling Association - EcoDoc - Pathfinder Media

Spain

Association Del Rio Aragon - EJOLT Project, EJAtlas


Sri Lanka
Earth Environment Protect Organization (EEPO) - Sevalanka Foundation

Sudan

Kajbar Dam Resistance Committee - Supreme Committee of Anti Dal-Kajbar Dams Nubia

Sweden

Grugg

Switzerland
Bruno Manser Fund - Pacha Mama Events - Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland

Tajikistan
Foundation to Support Civil Initiatives (FSCI)

Tanzania
CB-HYDRONET - Pastoralists Indigenous Non-Governmental Organization's Forum (PINGO's Forum)

Thailand
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) - Community Resource Centre - The Economist (Asia Specialist London) - Elephant Conservation Network - Focus on the Global South Mangrove Action Project - Mekong Commons - Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF)

Togo

Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement 


Uganda
National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) - Uganda Land Alliance (ULA)

United Arab Emirates

AMGT

United Kingdom
Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation - Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) - International Tibet Network

United States
Amazon Watch - Bank Information Center - The Borneo Project - Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) - Center for Political Ecology - Climate Compassion - EarthRights International (ERI) - FOUNDGREEN - Friends of the Earth US - Friends of the Eel River - Gender Action - Greenstein & McDonald - Inclusive Development International (IDI) - Institute for Policy Studies - International Accountability Project - International Presentation Association - Intex Solutions - Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network - Muthaland - Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) - O.A.R.S., Inc - Ocean Watch - Peace and Freedom Party - P.L. White Contracting - Project Maje - Rainforest Action Network - Rios to Rivers - Rivers Unlimited - Rosebud Agency - Save The Colorado - Sierra Club  - St. George Island Institute - Wild Forests & Fauna - Xun Biosphere Project

Uruguay 
CEUTA

Uzbekistan
Public Association "EKOLANDSKAPE"

Vietnam
CCD - Centre for Sustainable Community Development (S-CODE) - Centre for Sustainable Development in Mountainous Areas (CSDM) - Centre of Research and Development in Upland Areas (CERDA) - Experimental School - FREC - Ho Chi Minh National Politic Academy - People and Nature Reconciliation - Vietnam Indigenous Knowledge Network (VTIK)

International
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) - Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA) - CEE Bankwatch Network - Carbon Market Watch - International Rivers - International Socio-Ecological Union - Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE) - Oxfam - REDLAR