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International Hydropower Association (IHA) 2011
World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower

13-17 June 2011 | Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Iguaçu Falls 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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Highlights for Friday, 17 June

On Friday, participants attended sessions on the potential for combining renewable energy technologies, regional hydropower development and markets and incentives. Speakers emphasized that the objectives of hydroelectric projects will only be achieved when social, environmental and economic concerns are all taken into account to ensure sustainability and respond to the challenges of green growth.

A closing session on the future of sustainable hydropower was followed by IHA's biennial general meeting, which presented the report of work undertaken from 2010-2011 and the report of the governance committee and outlined the process, deadlines and nominees for the upcoming board election. Participants applauded IHA President Abdel-Malek as a leader and champion across multiple fora for the IHA and congratulated all those who worked in the development of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol. It was announced that the next IHA Congress will be held in Sarawak, Malaysia, in 2013. In the evening, participants were invited to a closing banquet.

Full web coverage available here: 17 June

IHA staff celebrating

IHA staff celebrated during the closing session.

Participants posing
Participants posed for a picture during a break.
Secretariat and events staff
Secretariat and events staff coordinated in the lobby.
Refaat Abdel-Malek, IHA
Refaat Abdel-Malek, IHA President.
Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak
Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Richard Taylor, IHA
Richard Taylor, Executive Director, IHA.
Highlights for Thursday, 16 June

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

Launch press conference

A press conference was held for the launch of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol.

Michael Lawrenchuk, Fox Lake Cree Nation
Michael Lawrenchuk, Fox Lake Cree Nation.
Roberta Leonhardt, Machado, Meyer, Sendacz & Opice
Roberta Leonhardt, Machado, Meyer, Sendacz & Opice.
Andrew Scanlon, Hydro Tasmania
Andrew Scanlon, Hydro Tasmania.
Fireworks over the Itaipu Dam
Fireworks over the Itaipu Dam.
Fireworks over the Itaipu Dam
Fireworks over the Itaipu Dam.
Highlights for Wednesday, 15 June

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

Opening session dais

Refaat Abdel-Malek, IHA President, introduced speakers in the opening session.

Deputy Minister Márcio Zimmermann answered a question during the press conference.
Deputy Minister Márcio Zimmermann answered a question during the press conference.
Participants at dinner
Participants at dinner.
Copel booth
The Copel booth in the exhibition.
Odebrecht Energia booth
The Odebrecht Energia booth in the exhibition.
Camargo Corrêa booth
The Camargo Corrêa booth in the exhibition.
Moonlight Iguaç River panorama

A panoramic view of the Iguaçu River by moonlight.

Highlights for Tuesday, 14 June

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

Itaipu dam panorama

A panoramic view of the Itaipu dam.

Jaguar cub
A jaguar cub at the Bela Vista refuge.
Toucan
A toucan perches in a tree.
Iguaçu Falls
Iguaçu Falls.
Iguaçu Falls
Iguaçu Falls.
Iguaçu Falls
Iguaçu Falls.
Council members

Consultative Council members after the meeting.

Highlights for Monday, 13 June

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

Workshop participants

Participants after the workshop on regional cooperation.

Exhibit painter
Exhibition staff painted...
Exhibit builder
...and assembled...
Exhibit cleaner
...and cleaned booths for the exhibition area.
Sustainability Network members

Members of the IHA Sustainability Network after their meeting.

Reporting Team
IISD-RS reporting team and friends

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.

Related Links
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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