Climate Change

Climate Finance

International financial institutions are increasingly turning to climate finance as a way to fund the huge costs of large dams. International Rivers monitors climate-earmarked funds such as the Green Climate Fund towards preventing destructive dams from entering project pipelines, promotes the use of strong social and environmental standards and technical benchmarks, and pushes climate finance away from a business-as-usual approach towards more resilient water and energy solutions.

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.

Advancements in the Field of Reservoir Emissons

Dead trees in the Petit Saut reservoir, French Guiana
Friday, December 2, 2011
Dead trees in the Petit Saut reservoir, French Guiana A Briefing on Recent Research and GuidelinesA large and growing number of scientific studies indicate that reservoirs, especially in the tropics, are a significant source of global greenhouse gas pollution. Major institutions such as the International Hydropower Association and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have developed specific guidelines and methodologies for measuring reservoir emissions in the field, though these are not required for countries developing national greenhouse gas inventories. W

Study Adds Urgency to Reform Offsetting Scheme in Durban

Increase of credits from large hydro expected by 2020
Increase of credits from large hydro expected by 2020 A new study released in time for the climate negotiations in Durban confirms that over 20% of all carbon credits under the UN's offsetting scheme, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), could come from business-as-usual large hydropower projects. This is not surprising considering that hydropower is heavily supported and subsidized in many countries, especially in China and India, who host a combined 78% of all the registered hydropower projects in the CDM. Large hydro projects are projected to generate 2 billion carbon credits by

Take Action to Protect Rivers during COP17

A Solar Fair in Argentina
A Solar Fair in Argentina In today's changing climate, we need decentralized and diversified water and energy solutions that can best respond to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. What we're getting instead is a push for more large dams. From November 28 to December 9, 2011, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa – COP17 – will bring together governments, international organizations, industry, and civil society to advance the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The hydropower industry and major financial institutions like

NGO Letter to Environment Ministers on COP 17

Monday, November 28, 2011
Dear Ministers, We, more than hundred civil society organisations from 35 countries across all continents, call on Parties to acknowledge the urgency with which climate change needs to be addressed and to agree to ambitious and immediate emissions reduction targets that are in line with the Cancun Agreement to prevent global warming beyond two degrees Celsius. Kyoto Protocol parties must commit to a second commitment period at Durban. The legal and governance structure of the Kyoto Protocol is crucial to ensuring that mitigation commitments are legally binding and have environmental integri

World Bank to Lead Climate Finance Without Energy Strategy?

Monday, November 28, 2011
On the first day of COP17 in Durban, South Africa, we launched a report with a host of other organizations working on climate change to shame the World Bank for promoting climate finance while not agreeing to a truly clean, forward-thinking Energy Strategy in 2011. The Bank lacks an Energy Strategy that promotes truly renewable energy and decentralized energy solutions to erradicate energy poverty. Read the report below, and Take Action to send a message to the World Bank to leave large hydropower out of its Energy Strategy. Unclear on the Concept Follow this link to download the report cour

New Google Earth Animation Shows How Damming Rivers Will Worsen Climate Crisis

Monday, November 28, 2011
For Immediate Release 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 at the COP17 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. For example, the tour illus

Video: Connect the Drops, Dam Building in the Himalayas

Lori Pottinger and I recently spoke with Samir Mehta, South Asia Program Director about the issues facing the region. The video I filmed and edited shows that the Himalayas and the entire region are indeed threatened by dam building and climate change. Samir explains how social movements are adapting to work against dam building, shifting from dam-centric opposition to protecting and conserving entire rivers. What do you think?Should dams still be a part of a regional energy portfolio, given the problems detailed in this video?What are some ways that the region could increase access to energy

10 Ways to Protect Rivers from Climate Change and Dams

Glacial lakes in Bhutan
Healthy rivers are critical for supporting life on Earth. They are especially necessary in light of the additional stresses that climate change will have on river-dependent communities and ecosystems. Watch our Google Earth 3D tour and read our online factsheet to learn more about why damming rivers is the wrong solution to climate change, and then take the 10 steps towards building a more river-conscious community: Spread the Word 1. Share the Google Earth video with your friends, families, and coworkers on Facebook and Twitter. 2. Show the video during an International Day of Action for

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