Dynamics of RE Annual Additions Globally. Hydro Marked as Blue, Wind as Grey and Sun as Yellow (IRENA)

As economic attractiveness of hydropower goes
down world-wide, the sector seeks to find new sources of support. Climate
funding is the single most promising opportunity for hydropower to continue
ruining rivers and forests of the planet. Therefore, we at the RwB pay close
attention to these developments and want to share with You our recent comments on
the “Draft Hydropower Standard for Climate
Bonds” issued by the Climate Bond Initiative” –  the first consistent attempt to “Climatewash”
hydro in …

President Emomali Rahmon starts construction of Rogun Hydro in 2016

The AIIB announced that it is joining the ADB and EBRD in an effort to build a 76 kilometer road and a bridge in Tajikistan. One would wonder why three multilateral banks are needed for such a small ordinary task? The answer is simple – they are helping the Central Asian autocracy to legitimize its unsustainable hydropower mega-project – potential source of major water conflicts in the region. This also may be paving the way for real large donor coming to …

Baikal shore near Posolsk

On September 12 the President approved a list of instructions to ensure compliance with the Law on Lake Baikal’s conservation and environmental rehabilitation.

The Government of the Russian Federation has been instructed
to review issues pertaining to Russia’s compliance with its
commitments on the conservation of Lake Baikal
as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site; the review
of the activities of the interdepartmental commission on the conservation
of Lake Baikal and improvement of its performance;
and organisation of the work of oversight authorities
in the Baikal Nature Territory.

The instructions for the Government also include improvement of state environmental monitoring of the unique ecosystem of Lake Baikal; prevention of and response to risks of disturbing Lake Baikal’s ecosystem; analysis of the fish stocks and fishing pressure on the Lake’s biological resources.

The Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Irkutsk Region were given …

Dam on Amazar River that degrades habitat of giant Taimen Salmon (by RwB)

We do have both good and bad news from the Amazar River -the uppermost tributary of the Amur-Heilong, which was blocked by dam for alleged needs of the Amazar Pulp and Saw Mill “Polaris”( 阿玛扎尔林浆一体化项目 ) – being built by Heilongjiang Xingbang International Investment Co。 （ 黑龙江兴邦国际资源投资股份有限公司 ） with support of a loan from China Development Bank. The Polaris Project also threatens last remaining intact boreal forests on Sino-Russian border.

This unfinished project initiated in 2004 has …

Amur-Heilong River at proposed Taipinggou Dam site. Photo by Taipinggou National Nature reserve

New article titled “Freshwater Ecosystems versus Hydropower Development” published in the MDPI journal “Water” shows practical directions for sustainable hydropower planning, suggesting much more tangible and straightforward ways to avoid and reduce dam impacts, than those suggested in “ESG gap analysis tool” developed by International Hydropower Association.

Hydropower development inevitably causes
a multitude of negative effects on freshwater ecosystems, and to prevent and
minimize possible damage, environmental impact assessments must be conducted
and optimal management scenarios designed. This paper, written by …

The Prelature of Infanta: NO Kaliwa Dam!!!

In Philippines a church-led campaign has been rolled out to gather signatures of 10 million people urging the government to drop a controversial dam project in the mountains of the northern Philippines.

The Prelature of Infanta said it began gathering signatures a month ago, as the government started the construction of the P18.7 billion Kaliwa Dam project. Bishop Bernardino Cortez is appealing for help in a last ditch effort to
protect local communities and their environment.

“The struggle is far from over… and …