Jie Zhou: Summary of “Dams and Sustainability in China” in Woodrow Wilson Internatinal Center

Summary of “Dams and Sustainability in China” in Woodrow Wilson Internatinal Center

By: Jie Zhou
07/26/2011

This Tuesday the Woodrow Wilson Center Hosted a China Environment Forum on “Dams and Sustainability in China” as China is home to roughly half the world's large dams and hydropower is set to play a key role in helping China meet its 2020 carbon intensity reduction commitments. The speakers explored dam trends and challenges in China,

Speakers

Doug Smith, International Hydropower Association (IHA)
As a Sustainability Specialist at the IHA, Douglas has focused on the new Hydropower Sustainability Assesemtn Protocol. He has experience over twenty countries on four continents, and worked in Beijing for three years until 2010.

Desiree Tullos, Oregon State University
Desiree Tullos is an Associate Professor in the Biological and Ecological Engineering Department at Oregon State University. Some of her current research include effects of hydropower development in China, analysis and design of dam removal, dam operations, etc.. She has been working in China since 2005.

Wang Hao, China Institute for Water Resources and Hydropower Research
Dr. Wang has been engaged in research on hydrology and water resources for 30+ years. He joined China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research in 1985 where he currently directs the Water Resources Department. He has won numerous scienfitic awards and recognition from the Ministry of Water Resources for his research and service to hydrology and water resources science in China.

Key Points

There has long been debate on whether it’s right or wrong to build large amounts of dams. Dr. Wang addressed the necessity at the forum of building dams in China for 4 reasons: national demand, national energy security, and demand of climate change, and natural disster relief.

An estimated population of 1.5 billion by 2020 and the urbanization progress demands large quatity of water and electricity; the existed water shortage in 400+ cities in China largely counted on dams for water supply; Tsunami accident in Fukushima raised great concern on the unpredictable and uncertain nuclear power plants leaning to hydropower plants.

However, there are problems and various issues in dam construction and operation: insufficient attention to imigants; interdiction of fish migration; long-term operation safety. Thus, China faces challenges such as the goal to reduce 40%-45% of CO2 by 2020, to increase storage capacity per capita, and to take better care of immigrants near the water area of dams constructed, etc.

Mr.Doug Smith and the Internatinal Hydropower Association has developed lots of acitivities in China, and been fousing on the Hydropower sustainability Assessment Principal, the frame of hydropower sustainability, which procedures along early stage, preparation, implementation, and operation of dams. Preparation stage, for instance, involves environmental, economic, and social aspects. The case of Shuibuya Trail assessment is one of the successes of the frame.

Ms. Desiree Tullos emphasized the decision support tool, silience, and the size that matters in the design, construction, and operation phases of dams, and said we should integreated biophysical, socioeconomic, and geopolitical axes into these different phases alsong with sustainability priorities.

More information can be found at: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/dams-and-sustainability-china