1 / 29

The World Commission on Dams

The World Commission on Dams. www.dams.org. Why a World Commission on Dams ?. In response to escalating conflicts over the role of dams in development, all constituents came together to establish the Commission. The Debate. Needs intensifying – concerns growing

catriona-kissane
Download Presentation

The World Commission on Dams

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The World Commission on Dams www.dams.org

  2. Why a World Commission on Dams ? In response to escalating conflicts over the role of dams in development, all constituents came together to establish the Commission

  3. The Debate • Needs intensifying – concerns growing • Major investments – significant impacts • Dam projects increasingly questioned • WCD - an unprecedented response to the controversy

  4. Needs intensifying … • freshwater withdrawals doubled in 50 years • 1 billion lack freshwater & 2 billion lack electricity • competition for water increasing • aquatic ecosystems are declining & wetlands have been lost

  5. Major investments … Number Of Dams 6 000 4 000 • 45,000 large dams worldwide • 2 dams commissioned per day in1970s • total investment exceeds $2 trillion • $40 billion expenditure per year at peak • estimated 40 – 80 million people displaced • flow in 60% of world’s rivers affected 2 000 0 1900 1990s

  6. Dam projects increasingly questioned … • affected populations strongly oppose dams • proponents point to urgent development demands • opponents point to adverse impacts • uprisings against globalisation • little space for constructive dialogue

  7. Unprecedented response to the controversy … • WCD created through unanimous agreement • broad based mandate to review development effectiveness & assess alternatives… … and develop internationally acceptable criteria and guidelines • address global problems through local understanding

  8. Lakshmi Chand Jain Kader Asmal Who was the Commission ? Donald Blackmore Joji Cariño Deborah Moore José Goldemberg Judy Henderson Jan Veltrop Thayer Scudder Medha Patkar Göran Lindahl Achim Steiner

  9. WCD - Diverse Perspectives WCD’s authority and credibility rested on the diversity of the Commissioners which was a guiding theme throughout its inclusive, transparent and participatory work programme

  10. Independent and Legitimate … • established through agreement • multi-stakeholder selection process of Commissioners • no vested interest - reported to the world • hands on experience with all aspects of dams • 53 financiers - untied & broad based

  11. Inclusive, Participatory & Transparent … • full range of perspectives – civil society to governments, private sector to NGOs, financiers to foundations • outreach through work programme and networks • extensive review process • WCD Forum as a reference point • draft studies on website www.dams.org

  12. Partnerships Stakeholders Writers & Study teams Commissioners World Commission on Dams Forum Financiers

  13. What did the Commission accomplish ? The most comprehensive, global and independent review of dams from which it developed recommendations for future decision-making

  14. WCD Report launched by Nelson Mandela at a major media event in London, 16 November 2000

  15. The Process • Knowledge driven review – listening and learning from the past • Multifaceted analysis – integrated assessment • Extensive negotiations within WCD led to agreed recommendations

  16. Knowledge driven review … • experiences from 79 countries & 1000 dams • 7 detailed case studies, 3 country studies, 125 cross check dams • 17 thematic reviews, 130 contributing papers • four regional consultations - 1400 people • 950 submissions The World Commission on Dams

  17. Multifaceted analysis … • assessed performance against planned targets • analysed social & environmental impacts • assessed alternatives for water & energy services • analysed planning, decision-making & compliance • examined how criteria have changed over time

  18. Extensive negotiations within WCD led to agreed recommendations … • linked the dams debate to development discourse • nine Commission meetings – listened & debated, examined & analysed • common problems – specific contexts

  19. What did the Commission find from the knowledge base ? Dams have delivered considerable benefits In too many cases the price paid to secure those benefits has been unacceptable and often unnecessary

  20. Summary ofWCDfindings… • lack of systematic evaluation of dam projects • considerable scope to improve performance • economic profitability is elusive – many externalities • all too often impacts on people & ecosystems are unacceptable and avoidable • alternatives to dams exist that are acceptable & viable – depends on location • the means to improve development outcomes exists but are not yet common practice

  21. The way forward– new framework for decision-making To improve development outcomes, the Commission presents a new framework for decision-making based on recognising rights and assessing risks of all interested parties

  22. Seven Strategic priorities Turning Conflict Into Consensus • Gain public acceptance • Assess options • Address existing dams • Sustain rivers and livelihoods • Recognise entitlements and share benefits • Ensure compliance • Share rivers across boundaries

  23. The Commission’s Criteria & Guidelines… Government Civil Society International Standards International Agreements Multilateral & Bilateral Organisations Private Sector Professional Organisations …in a wider framework

  24. Guidelines for good practice… Which include: Environmental flow Stakeholder analysis Performance bonds Greenhouse gas emissions Prior Informed consent Compliance plan Multi-criteria analysis Project benefit-sharing

  25. The WCD … • conducted first comprehensive review of performance • focused on options and compliance • showed that conflict is not inevitable • promoted a rights, risks approach to negotiate outcomes • showed that common ground can be reached

  26. Post WCD Developments • Report dissemination and buy in • 3rd Forum Meeting • Interim arrangements • Dams and Development Unit

  27. Some Lessons Derived from the Experience • Don’t underestimate the time required for the process to be successful • Participation is not a guarantee for consensus • Independence, multi-stakeholder composition, transparency, inclusiveness and accessibility were crucial factors

  28. WCD and the Draft MSP Framework • WCD process conforms with many features described in parts III and IV • WCD design and process unique to its needs • WCD is a valuable resource pool of documentation and expertise on the process

  29. Don’t plan, build, protest, operate, decommission, propose, oppose or discuss a dam without the WCD Report

More Related