Dams, 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 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?