Navigating trade-offs between dams and river conservation

IF 4.6 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Global Sustainability Pub Date : 2021-08-10 DOI:10.1017/sus.2021.15
M. Thieme, D. Tickner, G. Grill, J. Carvallo, M. Goichot, J. Hartmann, J. Higgins, B. Lehner, M. Mulligan, C. Nilsson, K. Tockner, C. Zarfl, J. Opperman
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引用次数: 29

Abstract

Non-technical summary There has been a long history of conflicts, studies, and debate over how to both protect rivers and develop them sustainably. With a pause in new developments caused by the global pandemic, anticipated further implementation of the Paris Agreement and high-level global climate and biodiversity meetings in 2021, now is an opportune moment to consider the current trajectory of development and policy options for reconciling dams with freshwater system health. Technical summary We calculate potential loss of free-flowing rivers (FFRs) if proposed hydropower projects are built globally. Over 260,000 km of rivers, including Amazon, Congo, Irrawaddy, and Salween mainstem rivers, would lose free-flowing status if all dams were built. We propose a set of tested and proven solutions to navigate trade-offs associated with river conservation and dam development. These solution pathways are framed within the mitigation hierarchy and include (1) avoidance through either formal river protection or through exploration of alternative development options; (2) minimization of impacts through strategic or system-scale planning or re-regulation of downstream flows; (3) restoration of rivers through dam removal; and (4) mitigation of dam impacts through biodiversity offsets that include restoration and protection of FFRs. A series of examples illustrate how avoiding or reducing impacts on rivers is possible – particularly when implemented at a system scale – and can be achieved while maintaining or expanding benefits for climate resilience, water, food, and energy security. Social media summary Policy solutions and development pathways exist to navigate trade-offs to meet climate resilience, water, food, and energy security goals while safeguarding FFRs.
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在大坝和河流保护之间进行权衡
关于如何既保护河流又可持续发展的冲突、研究和争论由来已久。由于全球大流行导致新的发展停顿,《巴黎协定》预计将进一步执行,2021年将举行全球气候和生物多样性高级别会议,现在是考虑当前发展轨迹和协调水坝与淡水系统健康的政策选择的时机。我们计算了如果在全球范围内建设水电项目,自由流动河流(ffr)的潜在损失。如果所有的水坝都建成,包括亚马逊河、刚果河、伊洛瓦底江和萨尔温江在内的26万多公里的河流将失去自由流动的状态。我们提出了一套经过测试和验证的解决方案,以便在河流保护和大坝开发之间进行权衡。这些解决方案路径是在缓解层次结构内制定的,包括:(1)通过正式的河流保护或通过探索替代发展方案来避免;(2)通过战略性或系统规模的规划或重新调节下游流量,将影响最小化;(三)拆除大坝恢复江河;(4)通过生物多样性补偿(包括森林保护区的恢复和保护)缓解大坝影响。一系列例子说明了如何避免或减少对河流的影响是可能的——特别是在系统规模上实施时——并且可以在保持或扩大对气候适应能力、水、粮食和能源安全的好处的同时实现。现有的政策解决方案和发展路径可以进行权衡,以实现气候适应能力、水、粮食和能源安全目标,同时保护ffr。
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来源期刊
Global Sustainability
Global Sustainability Environmental Science-Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
CiteScore
10.90
自引率
3.60%
发文量
19
审稿时长
17 weeks
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