World Commission on Dams

The following assessment by International Rivers compares the compliance report for the 135 MW Xiaoxi Dam to the Strategic Priorities of the World Commission on Dams, and the requirements of the German Emissions Trading Authority. The report is of very low quality and does not provide a basis for the German government to accept the project as WCD compatible. Background: German-based power utility RWE is one of the biggest CO2 emitters in Europe, with emissions of more than 120 million tonnes of CO2 per year, mainly from coal plants. In place of reducing its emissions, RWE intends to buy CDM

With support from the World Bank and IUCN, the independent World Commission on Dams (WCD) was created in May 1998. Its mandate was to review the development effectiveness of dams, and to develop standards and guidelines for future dams. The Commission was chaired by South Africa’s water minister Kader Asmal and consisted of twelve members from governments, industry, academia, and civil society. During its two-year lifetime, the WCD carried out the most comprehensive evaluation of large dams ever done to date. It commissioned 130 technical papers, studied seven dams and three dam-building c

A series of discussions are under way among the governments that ratified the Kyoto Protocol on what commitments developed countries (Annex I Parties, in the Protocol's jargon) should take on after the first phase of the Protocol expires in 2012. They are also discussing means to meet these commitments, including potentially redesigning the Clean Development Mechanism. The 5th session of this "Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol" will take place in Bangkok, 31 March to 4 April 2008. Climate Action Network International's submission to the Ad

Chinese investment in Cambodia's hydropower sector is threatening some of the country's most precious ecosystems and the livelihoods of thousands of people, according to a new research report released today. The research report, prepared by International Rivers and the Rivers Coalition in Cambodia, highlights the growing interest in large-scale hydropower dam development by Cambodian decision makers backed mainly by Chinese project developers and financiers. In April 2006, China announced a US$600 million aid package to Cambodia, almost half of which financed the Kamchay Dam, Cambodia's first

The UK's Department of Environment (DEFRA) has prepared a checklist which can be used to assess whether a large hydro project complies with the World Commission on Dams criteria. The checklist is Annex C in DEFRA's "guidance on approval and authorisation to participate in Clean Development Mechanism project activities" which can be downloaded below. The checklist was prepared in response to the requirement in the EU's Linking Directive that CDM credits from large hydros (>20MW) can only be used in the European Trading System if the projects comply with the WCD.

(A similar letter has been sent to the following buyers of carbon credits from Chinese hydros: ENEL, EDF Trading Limited, ICECAP, CAMS AB Sweden, RWE Power AG, MGM Carbon Portfolio, Kommunalkredit, EcoSecurities, Energy Systems International, Eco Energia, Endesa Generacion SA, CDCF, Factor Consulting, IXIS, Int System Energy Corporation, Arreon Carbon, Sindicatum Carbon Capital International, KfW, Ecoinvest, ICF, ESI BV, WBCF, CCAN) Berkeley/BerlinMarco MonroyPresident & CEOMGM Carbon PortfolioLuxembourgVia e-mail: marcogmonroy@mgminter.comDear Marco Monroy:We note that you intend to obta

The German Environment Ministry in October 2007 issued a "Guideline for Determination of Compliance with the Recommendations of the World Commission on Dams Regarding Hydroelectric Power Projects with a Capacity over 20MW, within the Context of Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects." The document, which can be downloaded below, was prepared in response to the requirement in the EU's Linking Directive that CDM credits from large hydros (>20MW) can only be used in the European Trading System if the projects comply with the WCD. Please also find below for dow

Download Raising the Bar on Big Dams PDF (700 KB)This report, commissioned by CEE Bankwatch Network and written by International Rivers, details how large dams financed by the EIB have damaged communities and the environment and failed to bring promised development benefits. "Raising the bar on big dams: Making the case for dam policy reform at the European Investment Bank" provides case studies of six controversial dam projects with EIB financial involvement - five in Africa, and one, Nam Theun 2, in Laos. The report highlights the EIB's lack of policies that would prevent it from funding des

This International Rivers Report that was published in 2005, five years after the World Commission on Dams report was published. International Rivers takes stock of how the different interest groups have responded to its findings and recommendations, and presents perspectives on how the WCD framework can be implemented in the future.

International Rivers sent this letter to West LB, one of the largest German private banks, suggesting that West LB should integrate the World Commission on Dams recommendations into their social-and environmental policies. Please note that this letter is written in German.