Governing the energy-water-environment nexus related to hydro-power projects

Event Type
Special Session at the GWSP International Conference

Location / Date
Bonn, 23.05.2013

German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Hydropower projects are one type of measures in which the energy-water nexus manifests itself. On one hand hydropower is recognised as one of the “advanced, cleaner, more efficient, affordable and cost-effective energy technologies" and as one of the best-developed non-fossil forms of electricity production. On the other hand, hydropower projects can have significant positive and negative effects for water management, as well as negative environmental and social impacts. Hence, governing the energy-water-environment nexus related to hydropower projects as well as mitigating negative social impacts remains an imperative. While international standards have emerged for sustainable dam development based on the work of World Commission on Dams (WCD) in the year 2000, less is known how these standards are translated into practice, and on the national administrative systems and instruments to integrate environmental and social concern in hydropower and water resources development and to balance trade-offs. The aim of the session was to study recent experiences in governing the energy-water-environment nexus related to hydropower projects.

Session chairs:

• Ines Dombrowsky, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)
• Waltina Scheumann, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Presenters:

• Oliver Hensengerth, University of Northumbria, UK: "Integrating environmental and social issues into dam planning in China"
• Waltina Scheumann, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE): "Governing the energy, water and environment nexus in Turkish dam planning"
• Peter Newborne, Overseas Development Institute, UK: "Sharing of benefits of large dam projects for local communities: examples of benefit-sharing mechanisms from Asia, Africa and the Americas"
• Ines Dombrowsky, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE): "The energy-water-environment nexus in recent hydropower projects - the case of the Ruzizi and Rusmu Falls projects in Africa's Great Lake Region"

Hinweis

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