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Web coverage/Summary
IISD Reporting Services (IISD RS) has produced daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis from the meeting. To download our report click below in the HTML or PDF icons. |
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International Hydropower Association (IHA) 2011 World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower
13-17 June 2011 | Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil |
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The International Hydropower Association (IHA) held its biannual World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower in Iguaçu, Brazil from 15-17 June 2011, with related events on 13-14 June. Over five hundred participants from 71 countries attended the Congress. Representatives from the hydropower industry who are members of IHA, including utilities and operators, as well as representatives of social and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indigenous communities, multilateral finance institutions and research centers participated in the meeting.
Following previous Congresses held in Antalya, Turkey in 2007 and Reykjavik, Iceland in 2009, this event included the launch of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, the result of a joint effort by the industry and environmental and social NGOs to define criteria for the sustainable management of hydropower projects. The meeting presented a broad view of the sustainability challenges to hydropower development, reflected on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment noting sustainability does not have a direct relationship with dam size, and discussed the opportunities arising from the growing interest in green growth strategies within the international community, as well as from the growth of carbon market finance opportunities.
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Daily web coverage
(click on the following links to see our daily web pages)
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On Thursday, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower held plenary sessions on: assessing sustainability performance, diverging views on social issues and sharing water for development. A press conference was held to launch the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, and a session was held on how to use the Protocol. Parallel sessions also addressed downstream flow regimes and hydropower in the 21st century. In the evening, participants were invited to a light and sound show at Itaipu Dam.
The main discussions held through the day concerned the use of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, an instrument that is the fruit of a three-year revision process engaging both the industry and NGOs. Participants highlighted the importance of testing the Protocol on the ground, promoting its widespread use among IHA members, and other stakeholders. They emphasized that it does not constitute a standard, and recognized that as a scoring tool, it reduces complex social issues to numbers. However, the value of the Protocol as an instrument was highlighted, not just to assess sustainability per se, but to provide a common language for dialogue among all actors in the process, including affected communities, and act as a bridge between different world views.
Speakers emphasized that the Protocol should be seen as strengthening and including, not displacing, the recommendations from the World Commission on Dams.
Full web coverage available here: 16 June
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On Wednesday, 15 June, participants gathered for the opening session of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower, followed by a special intervention by the World Energy Council and a panel-led discussion on integrating water and energy policies.
In the afternoon, participants took part in sessions on climate change and hydropower, a presentation on the Belo Monte hydropower project, and parallel sessions on: hydropower’s greenhouse gas footprint; hydropower and water consumption; and hydropower development and freshwater conservation.
Among other things, discussions highlighted increased dialogue amongst all stakeholders, the importance of hydropower in combating climate change, and early planning and coordination for successful hydropower projects to lessen impacts on surrounding communities and environment.
In the evening, participants were invited to a full moon dinner at Iguaçu Falls.
Full web coverage available here: 15 June
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The International Hydropower Association’s (IHA) World Congress opened on Tuesday, 14 June 2011, with a networking tour providing participants with a chance to take in the highlights of Foz do Iguaçu, and meet each other before the start of the Congress’ packed schedule of meetings. Participants toured the Itaipu Dam, which is shared by Brazil and Paraguay, donning hard-hats for a guided look at the system that produces over 90 million MWh of power per year for the two countries, making it the world’s largest hydropower installation in terms of generation capacity.
Participants were led through the Bela Vista Ecological Refuge, a local conservation programme, watching a video about its operations, education and research projects, before walking the Refuge’s trails to see indigenous flora and fauna, including jaguars, macaws, marsh deer, and others. The tour culminated with a visit to Iguaçu Falls, where participants braved the spray of the falls for photographs of the 275 waterfalls and cataracts, including Garganta del Diablo.
IHA's Consultative Council convened in the afternoon to discuss ideas for the IHA's work in the next two year and beyond. In the evening, participants attended a welcome reception and dinner.
Full web coverage available here: 14 June
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On Monday, 13 June 2011, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) began convening preliminary events that will lead into its 2011 biennial World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower in the latter half of the week.
Throughout the day, the IHA, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank convened the first Global Workshop on Regional Cooperation for Hydropower Development, with opening remarks by Miguel Zydan Soria (ITAIPU Binacional) and IHA Executive Director Richard Taylor.
Participants heard panel presentations on themes including accessing international markets for power, regional trading of power between nations, hydropower on transboundary issues, and structuring for public and private sector involvement. Each panel was met with numerous questions from participants, and several lively discussions ensued. After the thematic sessions, rapporteurs offered summaries of each theme, and Song Dongsheng (Sinohydro Corporation) gave comments on the day's discussions.
In the afternoon, members of the IHA Sustainability Network met to discuss the upcoming launch of a new revision of the IHA's sustainability protocol during this week's Congress, and future goals.
Full web coverage available here: 13 June
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Your IISD-RS reporting team and friends. L-R: Philip Smith, Communications Officer, IHA, Kate Neville, Writer, Canada, Refaat Abdel-Malek, President, IHA, Soledad Aguilar, Team Leader, Argentina, Nancy Williams, Logistics Coordinator, US, Kate Louw, Writer, South Africa, Dan Birchall, Digital Editor, US.
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IHA resources
Official website
Congress programme
Networking tour
First Global Workshop on Regional Cooperation for Hydropower Development
IHA’s Consultative Council
IHA’s website
General resources
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - Water website
World Water Council website
Hydro Sustainability website
IISD RS resources
IISD RS coverage of the UN Climate Change Conference June 2011, 6-17 June 2011, Bonn, Germany
IISD RS summary of the Regional Global Forum on Sustainable Energy - “Energy between Danube and Caucasus,” 28-29 April 2011, Vienna, Austria (HTML - PDF)
IISD RS coverage of the UN Climate Change Conference Bangkok - April 2011, 3-8 April 2011, UN Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
IISD RS coverage of the Fifth Session of the Preparatory Commission for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and First Session of the Assembly of IRENA, 3 and 4-5 April 2011, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
IISD RS summary of the World Water Day 2011, 22 March 2011, Cape Town, South Africa (HTML - PDF)
IISD RS summary of the Second Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and Ninth Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention, 16-18 and 21-25 February 2011, Bonn, Germany (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)
IISD RS coverage of the IHA World Congress 2009, 23-26 June 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland
IISD RS coverage of the IHA World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower, 29-31 May 2007, Antalya, Turkey
IISD RS archive of meetings on water, oceans, and wetlands; and backgrounder
IISD RS archive of meetings on forests, desertification and land; and backgrounder
IISD RS archive of meetings on climate change; and backgrounder
IISD RS archive of sustainable development meetings; and backgrounder
Water-L - A news and announcement list on water policy issues
Oceans-L - A news and announcement list on oceans policy issues
Energy-L - A mailing list for news on energy policy
Forests-L - A mailing list for news on forest policy
Sustainable Development Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of International Activities Preparing for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development
Climate Change Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of UN and Intergovernmental Activities Addressing Global Climate Change Policy
SIDS Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
Biodiversity Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of UN and Intergovernmental Activities Addressing International Biodiversity Policy
Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news
African Regional Coverage
Latin America and Caribbean Regional Coverage |
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