The International Hydropower Association (IHA) published its 7th “Hydropower Status Report”. Report illustrates further decline of annually installed hydropower capacity, with “optimistic” estimate of only 15 GW added worldwide in 2019. We still tend to believe that the 12.5 GW figure from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is more accurate, because random check on the IHAs figures shows that to cheer-up report readership results for some countries were exaggerated: by 90 MW in Russia, by 250 MW in Ethiopia, and by 400 MW in Tajikistan, etc. However, our …

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 …

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 …

The Fish and the dam that brought it to extinction

Gezhouba Dam

Last year we placed these two pictures on the back cover of the Heritage Dammed report to UNESCO to illustrate the role of dams in mass extinction of freshwater biodiversity. We suggested that scientists will wait for 50 year before declaring the paddlefish extinct. We were wrong, by 49.5 years. Here is the article by Lily Katzman of Smithsonian Magazine:

China’s Yangtze River, the world’s third longest river, is home to 378 known species of fish. But the Chinese paddlefish, …

The Dead End

Opinion by Paul Hockenos(CNN)

Climate change is already wreaking
lethal havoc on the world of flora and fauna.

So, all hands on deck to save the
planet, right? We’re behind in the chase and need all the clean energy
resources we can muster to hit the 2015 Paris summit goals and curb global
warming, right?

Actually, no. All renewable energy
sources are neither equal nor welcome. Just because an energy source is zero or
low emissions doesn’t mean that it’s intrinsically
good for the environment — just look at nuclear power, which many
countries (rightly) deem much too …