This document announces a lecture series on dams that will take place on January 16, 2012. The first lecture will focus on why dams are necessary despite criticism, international standards for dam building, and how they are applied. The lecture will also discuss water, energy, and food security as key priorities for the region.
1. Lecture Series
Monday, 16.01.2012
Dams: Why they are necessary despite all The Water-Energy-Food
the criticism Security Nexus
Winter Semester 2011 / 2012
Dr. Waltina Scheumann
German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut
für Entwicklungspolitik!
26. „Financial constraints reduce its (development) potential, but not as
much as the notion of acceptability on social and
environmental levels.“ (Canadian NGO)
31.
Environmental clearance in almost all countries
(Environmental Impact Assessment)
only single projects (not aggregated impacts)
Cost-Benefit Analysis weak in economic valuation
of ecological+social externalities
too late in decision-making process
weak public participation
(not in project decision-making)
inadequate assessment of impacts on natural
resources
EMP not mandatory
weak monitoring capacity of public agencies
=> Strategic Environmental Assessment
32.
• poorly planned
• involuntary...
• poor compensation for losses
• under-estimated cost component of a project
• market value of assets but not income
generation / safeguarding of livelihoods
(+) progress in all countries
(+) Brazil: revenue sharing from dam operation
(electricity sales) with affected people