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Overview
"By the year 2000, the world had built more than 45,000 large dams to irrigate crops, generate power, control floods in wet times and store water in dry times. Yet, in the last century, large dams also disrupted the ecology of half the world's rivers, displaced tens of millions of people from their homes and left nations burdened with debt. Their impacts have inevitably generated growing controversy and conflicts. Resolving their role in meeting water and energy needs is vital for the future and illustrates the complex development challenges that face our societies." "The Report of the World Commission on Dams: is the product of an unprecedented global public policy effort to bring governments, the private sector and civil society together in one process; provides the first comprehensive global and independent reivew of the performance and impacts of dams; presents a new framework for water and energy resources development; and develops an agenda of seven strategic priorities and corresponding criteria and guidelines for future decision-making." "Challenging our assumptions, the Commission sets before us the hard, rigorous and clear-eyed evidence of exactly why nations decide to build dams and how dams can affect human, plant and animal life, for better or for worse. Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making is about the future of dams as well as the changing development context where new voices, choices and options leave little room for a business-as-usual scenario."--BOOK JACKET.Synopsis
* London book launch chaired by Nelson Mandela
* Dams are a major environmental issue in the US
* The only fully comprehensive and independent review of the performance and impacts of dams
* Product of unprecedented consultation, involving the World Bank, World Conservation Union, governments, industry and civil society
* Presents a new framework for developing water and energy resources
* Sets out seven strategic priorities for the future Large dams are the focus of efforts to manage both water and energy resources. By 2000, the world had built 45,000. Yet they can also bring huge problems of environmental damage and social dislocation. Establishing the role of large dams is vital for the future and for sustainable forms of development. This report is the outcome of extensive public policy and consultation efforts bringing governments, the private sector and civil society representatives into one process. It challenges prevailing assumptions and sets out clearly why dams are built and what impacts they have, for better and worse. From this evidence it presents a new framework for developing energy and water resources and an agenda of seven priorities with guidelines for decision making. The result is essential reading for all parties involved with the future for large dam construction.
Future Survey
In sum, the key decisions are not about dams as such, but about options for water and energy development.