The construction site of the Jiasa River hydropower station near Jiasa Town, Yunnan province, FoN

Despite coronavirus fears and strict quarantine China had witnessed a landmark victory in public-interest litigation on environmental matters. We congratulate Friends of Nature (and our friends) with this remarkable achievement and wish them to win this case to the very end.

In July 2017, conservation groups Friends of Nature (自然之友), Shan Shui Conservation Centre and Wild China Film filed a lawsuit against the China Hydropower Engineering Consulting Group at the Kunming Intermediate People’s Court. Their …

A week ago the Save the Tigris Campaign (to which the RwB is a member) sent a letter to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN reacting to the official report on Iraqi Marshes submitted by the government of Iraq. One of the main points was a request to keep turkey accountable for its management and construction of reservoirs upstream of the World Heritage Site.

Today as the Ilysu Reservoir waters continue to rise the Save the Tigris Campaign is one of signatories to the ” Open letter …

An interdisciplinary group of researchers was assembled to identify ‘frontier horizon’ environmental and social issues for the BRI. One hundred issues were initially submitted and “rapid destruction of natural river ecosystems” came out as the most pressing issue of all (although it is not very novel). Chinese companies and financiers have major role in developing water infrastructure all over the globe.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents the largest infrastructure and development project in human history, and presents risks and opportunities for ecosystems, economies, and communities. Some risks …

The Key Slides

The International Day
of Action for Rivers (March 14) is a day dedicated to solidarity – when diverse
communities around the world come together with one voice to say that our
rivers matter.. As the 22nd annual International Day of Action for
Rivers. has been constrained by the spread of Covid-19 virus, still activists in several dozen countries held events to
celebrate river protection.

In Russia the Rivers
without Boundaries, All-Russia Civic Forum, Socio-ecological Union organized on
the March 13 in Moscow a Debate on Hydropower Dams’
Role in Climate Action.

Conservationists,
climate activists, scientists, and journalists will get …

Six Actions proposed in “Bending the curve for freshwater: an emergency recovery plan”

by Jeff Opperman , WWF-US

Freshwater ecosystems and species are in crisis,
and 2020 is a pivotal year for countries and companies to take steps to solve
that crisis. What does this have to do with energy? A surprising amount. 

From hydropower dams that fragment rivers and block fish migration to
thirsty crops for biofuels that contribute to the depletion of water resources,
the energy sector has a significant impact on freshwater resources and
ecosystems—and thus must be a big part of …

Enashiminskaya Hydo in Siberia

The World Small Hydropower Development Report (WSHPDR) 2019 is the result of a collaborative effort between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Center on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) and over 230 local and regional small hydropower (SHP) experts, organizations, engineers, academics and government officials across the globe.

Prior to the World Small Hydropower Development Report (WSHPDR) 2013, it was clear that a comprehensive reference publication for decision makers, stakeholders and potential investors was needed . The 2019 edition aims to not only provide an update …