Infographics

New investment in solar and wind energy is thriving at the cost of new hydropower dams. Our infographic illustrates exciting trends and points out some of the the laggards. The World is Going Solar International Rivers

This infographic, from the December 2014 issue of World Rivers Review, shows how the Mekong River supports the world's largest inland fishery and productive farms, and the risks that a large-dam boom pose to the food systems the river provides. Download the infographic (PDF)

Right now in Lima, Peru, leaders from 195 governments are debating how to solve the climate crisis—and many of them still think large dams are a viable solution. At the twentieth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which continues through Friday, government representatives are creating the framework for a binding climate treaty that will be signed next year. Various governments, financial institutions, and corporations will be pushing for the construction of large dams to supplant fossil-fuel power plants. That’s why over 180 civil society or

China has committed to a massive reduction of its carbon emissions, which will almost certainly lead to dramatic reduction in coal power production. Dam builders and energy planners propose the construction of new hydropower dams on China’s rivers at unprecedented levels in order to reach these targets. International Rivers has released a new report on the True Cost of Hydropower in China exploring assumptions that large hydropower must be developed to underwrite China’s low-carbon transition.

This infographic captures the key points of the 2012 report "A Risky Climate for Southern African Hydro" by Dr. Richard Beilfuss.

When a river has been dammed, one of the most obvious changes is the disruption to the amount and timing of its flow. “Environmental flows” is a system for managing the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows below a dam, with the goal of sustaining freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on them. The most ecologically important aspects of a river’s flow are extreme low flows, low flows, high flow pulses, small floods, and large floods. Environmental flows can be designed to restore any of these, with the goal of improving water quality, restoring s

From September 2013 World Rivers ReviewIn the past 65 years, the World Bank has funded some 600 dam projects for a total of approximately US $100 billion (in current terms). These dams have caused untold environmental destruction, sowed corruption, displaced more than 10 million people, and impacted hundreds of millions more. Click below to download a graphic that will help you navigate the Bank's dam building over the decades.

From December 2012 World Rivers ReviewA graphic look at why our rivers need a citizen science movement. Click on the image to download it.