WWF criticizes
dam projects worldwide that continue to violate fundamental sustainability
criteria.
March 2013. In the WWF report, "Seven Sins of Dam Building," numerous
dam projects under construction or planned are given a failing review by the
conservation organization. Aside from the internationally controversial Belo
Monte (Brazil ) and Xayaburi (Laos ) dams, European projects, such as in Austria and Turkey
The ‘Seven
Sins' outlined in the report include issues with dam location, neglecting
biodiversity, environmental flows, social and economic factors, and risk
analysis. WWF also notes that dam decisions often blindly follow "a bias
to build" without considering better, cheaper, and less damaging
alternatives.
Short-term thinking
"Properly planned, built, and operated dams can contribute to food and energy security, unfortunately short-term interests are too often the focus of decision-making", says Dr. Jian-hua Meng, Water Security Specialist for WWF.
"Properly planned, built, and operated dams can contribute to food and energy security, unfortunately short-term interests are too often the focus of decision-making", says Dr. Jian-hua Meng, Water Security Specialist for WWF.
"In order
to guarantee acceptable levels of social and environmental sustainability, dam
installations and operations should be stringently checked against
sustainability criteria as formulated under the World Commission on Dams or the
Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol. If necessary, insufficiently
performing projects must be modified or aborted," added Dr. Meng.
No sustainable
outcomes can be expected when dam proponents rely on superior financial
strength and political connections rather than on dialogue, transparency, and
reason, says WWF. Additionally, some governments lack the capacity or
independence to protect public interests. Successful and overall long-term
beneficial dam projects need more than just the legal regulator's approval,
according to the report.
‘Social
license to operate'
"For large-scale projects, operators must also obtain the ‘social license to operate'. Acceptance of the project by the population is fundamental to sustainable management, "says WWF expert Meng.
"For large-scale projects, operators must also obtain the ‘social license to operate'. Acceptance of the project by the population is fundamental to sustainable management, "says WWF expert Meng.
"Negative
effects, such as relocation, destruction of cultural sites, or the collapse of
local fisheries are still too often dismissed as 'somebody else's
problem'," Dr. Meng added.
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