Response to the Final Report:

Green Cross International

Dec 2000 - Jan 2001 issue of the Green Cross International Newsletter

On November 16 in London, Professor Kader Asmal released the much anticipated report of the World Commission on Dams, a unique initiative which gathered together the differing and opposing parties to the large dams debate. The launching ceremony was honoured by the presence of former President Nelson Mandela, who made poignant reference to the importance of the dams and devel-opment debate when he reminded the gathering that "political freedom is not enough when you do not have clean water to drink; political freedom is not enough when you do not have a light to read by at night". He also clearly stated that he wished the WCD guidelines had been available to him when he had sanctioned some of his country's over 500 dams.

The Commission, which was created by IUCN and the World Bank, has succeeded in accessing the heart of the highly controversial issues associated with dams, which provide 19% of global energy, as well as irrigation and flood management, but have displaced up to 80 million people, often without compensation, and have wrecked havoc on ecosystems across the world.

The members of the Commission herald from civil society, private sector, engineering, environmentalists, and anti-dam lobbies and provided the rationale for a fundamental shift in the assessment, planning and project cycles for water and energy resources development. The Commission established core values to be prerequisite to any decision, including equity, effiency, participatory decision-making, sustainability and accountability. The approach is based on the recognition of rights and assessment of risks.

Immediately after the presentation of the report, opponents of large dams seized the opportunity to call for the suspension of all dam projects pending their review in accordance with the WCD recommendations.

Green Cross, which contributed to the WCD on the question of conflict prevention regarding dams with transboundary impact, considers the report as a guideline for analysing existing and new projects to assess whether they contribute to the sustainable improvement of human welfare on a basis that is economically viable, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable. Many large dams, both already built and under construction, do not answer to these criteria. Green Cross, faithful to its mission, acts to mitigate the negative environmental and social impacts of such infrastructures by bringing altogether all stakeholders involved in the issue. It is what we are doing in Argentina and in Paraguay, contributing to the resolution of the negative ecological and social consequences of the Yacyreta dam.

These activities began in mid-2000 and have already yielded positive results for displaced persons, who are not only financially compensated but helped to develop new commercial activities to give them a position in society and allow them to regain control of their lives. The Green Cross mediation action is in line with the recommendations of the WCD, and our role as the 'Red Cross for Environment', but the traps are many and present new challenges for our organization to surmount.