Dams, Rivers and Climate ChangeDams, Rivers and Climate Change

Status of Rivers

• >54,000 large dams/diversions moderately/severely impact 60% rivers

• > 500,000 km altered for navigation• 90% sewage in developing

countries untreated• Half the world’s wetlands destroyed• Watershed degradation, climate

change disrupting flows• 37% freshwater fish species

threatened, endangered or extinct• 40-80 million people displaced• 472 million suffer livelihood losses

downstream

Large dams are the wrong response because:

(1)River flows are increasingly unpredictable• Reduced generation: drought and evaporation

• Hydro ≥50% supply in 63 countries

• Safety threatened by extreme floods

(2)Dam reservoirs emit greenhouse gases• Tropical reservoirs are globally significant sources of

methane

(3)Healthy rivers are critical for supporting life • Big dams reduce water quality and quantity, dry up

forests and wetlands, flood productive land, exacerbate biodiversity loss, and destroy fisheries.

• Free-flowing rivers help trap carbon

How Do Dams Worsen the Climate Crisis?