Africa

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Energy Solutions for Uganda

Uganda clearly needs power, but questions remain as to whether its single-minded focus on large dams is the most appropriate approach for the poor, indebted nation. Although less than 10% of the Ugandan population has access to electricity, most citizens could not afford the costly power from the nation's newest dam, Bujagali, even if they were offered free connections to the national grid. In addition, climate change is expected to make large hydro more risky in East Africa, and Uganda is already dependent on two large dams for meeting nearly all of its energy needs. Local activists have bee

Climate Change and African Rivers

Hydrodependency in Africa: Risky Business
Hydrodependency in Africa: Risky Business Africa has been deemed “the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of projected climate change” by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The continent has one of the most volatile water systems on the planet, and its rivers routinely experience wild swings in flow. For example, variation in the Zambezi River is estimated to be ten times higher than that of most European rivers. This situation will only worsen with climate change. Despite this hydrological risk, thousands of megawatts of hydropower are being proposed for Africa's r

Event: Meet Our Africa Program Director

Thursday, March 22, 2012
Introducing International Rivers to South African NGOsInternational Rivers has set up shop in South Africa! Come and meet our Africa Programme Director and learn about our work to protect rivers from destructive dams and promote better solutions to meeting water and energy needs. Venue: Endangered Wildlife Trust Date: April 4, 2012, 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm Address: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Pinelands Office Park, Modderfontein, Johannesburg. About UsFor nearly 30 years, International Rivers has worked to protect rivers around the world and defend the rights of communities that depend on them. N

Africa Needs Green Energy, Not Grand Inga

Rudo speaking at COP-17
Reporting from the COP-17 climate meeting, Durban Rudo speaking at COP-17 Photo: Songqiao Yao South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma launched the COP 17 climate meeting in Durban last week with a speech on the potential for green energy to help build economic growth in South Africa. In a land blessed with huge potential for solar, wind, energy efficiency and other green energy sources, Zuma chose to highlight Africa’s biggest dam, the Grand Inga, on the Congo River. South Africa and DR Congo had signed an agreement to build the massive dam just days prior to the COP meeting. Zuma’s ann

Wrong Climate for Damming Rivers Video

International Rivers and Friends of the Earth International have teamed up to create a state-of-the-art Google Earth 3-D tour and video narrated by Nigerian activist Nnimmo Bassey, winner of the prestigious Right Livelihood Award. The production was launched on the first day of the COP 17 climate meeting in Durban. The video and tour allow viewers to explore why dams are not the right answer to climate change, by learning about topics such as reservoir emissions, dam safety, and adaptation while visiting real case studies in Africa, the Himalayas and the Amazon.

Africa For Sale

Millions in Ethiopia have been affected by an ongoing drought, yet the government is practically giving away arable land to outside investors.
From September, 2011 World Rivers Review Land and Water Grabs Spell Disaster for Rural People and RiversMillions in Ethiopia have been affected by an ongoing drought, yet the government is practically giving away arable land to outside investors. Kimberly Flowers/USAID The Horn of Africa has been in the headlines for months now as famine and starvation spread across the drought-ravaged region. Yet this troubled province is simultaneously seeing a dramatic transfer of arable lands to foreign investors intent on exporting staples and biofuels. The Horn is only the most shocking example of a g

UNESCO World Heritage Committee: "Abandon Plans" for Stiegler's Gorge Dam

Thursday, July 21, 2011
In its 2011 annual meeting, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee urged Tanzania to "abandon plans for the different development projects which are incompatible with the World Heritage Status of the property, in particular the Stiegler's Gorge dam." Tanzania has until 1 February 2012 to submit a state of conservation report to the World Heritage Centre. Selous Game Reserve (United Republic of Tanzania)The World Heritage Committee Decision 35 COM 7B.6 Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/7B, Recalling Decision 34 COM 7B.3, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),Reiterates its utmost conce

Energy Policies Should Not Seek to Conquer Nature

Monday, June 6, 2011
Business Day AFTER he visited the country in 2001, Ronnie Kasrils exclaimed: "China today is a construction engineer’s dream…. Nowhere is this better symbolised than at the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River." The Yangtze dam is the world’s largest hydropower project and has often been touted as a model for dam builders around the world. Now the Chinese government has admitted the project’s serious social, environmental and geological problems. What are the lessons from the Three Gorges experience for Africa? The Three Gorges Dam is indeed a masterpiece of engineering. In spite of i

World Bank to Back African Dams in New Energy Strategy

Takeze Dam in Ethiopia
Takeze Dam in Ethiopia The World Bank's new draft Energy Strategy makes some positive advancements in creating our energy future.  For example, the Bank has tentatively made a commitment to cut lending for coal projects in all countries that do not receive funding from the International Development Agency (IDA).  Yet what the Bank promises as a trade-off for coal spells trouble for the future of rivers in Africa.

 I've just come back from a meeting with Bank officials to address some of the problem language around dams in the draft strategy.  As the meeting came to a close,

JVE Statement on Dams and Climate Change in Africa

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Dams are not solutions to climate change and Africa’s energy needs Since their independence, developing countries have been building large hydroelectric dams to boost their economy. Due to climate change water resources are becoming scarce. But it is clear that large dams do not meet energy needs of Africa nor solve disasters related to climate change. Given the widespread concern over climate change related to greenhouse gas emissions, dam promoters are now stressing that hydroelectricity is a clean source of energy, thus being the best candidate to substitute fossil fuel-based energy sourc

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