Response to the Final Report:

International Hydropower Association - Initial Comment

London, 16 November 2000 - Prior to detailed analysis

We commend the efforts of the World Commission on Dams in attempting to compile a comprehensive and balanced report on the role and effectiveness of dam, to try to avoid the polarization of views 'for and against' dams. It is in this spirit that the profession participated in this process, and contributed considerable input.

It was sincerely hoped that the result of this two-year effort of the WCD would make a constructive contribution to the vast amount of work already conducted by our organizations in the field of environmental and social aspects.

After the efforts we have made, we are disappointed, as a member of the Forum, not to have been sent the Report, or even the Executive Summary, by the WCD, but to have been contacted first by the general media to comment on the Summary, which has been in their hands for some days.

Concerning the content of the Report, which we assume is reflected by the Executive Summary:

• The overall tone is negative concerning the role of dams, generalizing adverse aspects, and understating the well know social and economic benefits.
• We feel that some statements are based on inadequately researched data, for example, the estimates of the number of people displaced by dams.
• Alternatives to large dams recommended by the Report as 'near-term solutions' are qualitatively interesting, but are not realistic on an adequate scale to meet the needs of an extra 3 billion people by the year 2050. Also, the social and ecological impacts of these suggested alternatives are not discussed for comparison.

The general principles and recommendations previously put forward by our professional associations are well reflected in the overall conclusions of the WCD. As can be seen from the IHA-IEA White Paper, and ICOLD's Position Paper on the Environment, extensive studies have been conducted within the past decade on social and environmental aspects, and a wealth of knowledge and experience exists in these fields today.

Many new dams are planned for this century to address the escalating water crisis in the world, and to provide cheap and renewable energy. Our organizations will continue to work to ensure that these dams will be planned and constructed in an environmentally, socially and economically sound way.

Dialogue with all stakeholders of water resources development projects must certainly continue, and best practice must be encouraged. But ultimately development decisions lie in the hands of individual governments. With regard to ensuring compliance, the suggested development of 'international legal recourse' may not be acceptable around the world, particularly in developing countries, where it could be regarded as interference in their chosen development strategies.