New Framework for Decision Making: The Report of the World Commission on Dams

The World Commission on Dams (WCD) was established in 1997 to review the development effectiveness of large dams and to develop internationally acceptable criteria, guidelines and standards for planning, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of dams. The WCD's final report, released in 2000, presents a new framework for decision making on dams that is based on the principles of sustainability and equity.

Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-making - The Report of the World Commission on Dams

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Language	:	English
File size	:	17794 KB
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Print length	:	403 pages

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Background

The WCD was established in response to growing concerns about the social and environmental impacts of large dams. These concerns included the displacement of people, the loss of livelihoods, the disruption of ecosystems, and the increased risk of dam failures. The WCD was tasked with reviewing the evidence on the impacts of dams and developing recommendations for how to improve the planning, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of dams.

The WCD's Framework for Decision Making

The WCD's framework for decision making on dams is based on the following principles:

• Sustainability: Dams should be designed and operated in a way that ensures that they do not harm the environment or the social and economic well-being of local communities.
• Equity: The benefits and costs of dams should be shared equitably among all stakeholders, including local communities, downstream communities, and future generations.
• Participation: All stakeholders should have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision-making process on dams.
• Accountability: Those who make decisions about dams should be accountable for the social and environmental impacts of those decisions.

The WCD's framework for decision making includes a set of criteria that can be used to assess the sustainability, equity, participation and accountability of dam projects. These criteria include:

• The social and environmental impacts of the dam
• The economic viability of the dam
• The participation of stakeholders in the decision-making process
• The accountability of those who make decisions about the dam

The WCD's Recommendations

The WCD's final report contains a number of recommendations for how to improve the planning, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of dams. These recommendations include:

• Adopting the WCD's framework for decision making on dams
• Establishing independent review boards to assess the social and environmental impacts of dam projects
• Requiring dam developers to develop and implement comprehensive social and environmental management plans
• Ensuring that local communities have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision-making process on dams
• Holding those who make decisions about dams accountable for the social and environmental impacts of those decisions

The WCD's framework for decision making on dams is a valuable tool for assessing the sustainability, equity, participation and accountability of dam projects. The WCD's recommendations provide a roadmap for how to improve the planning, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of dams. By following the WCD's recommendations, we can help to ensure that dams are developed in a way that benefits both people and the environment.

Further Reading

• The World Commission on Dams Report
• The WCD Report: A Framework for Decision Making on Dams
• The World Commission on Dams Report: A Review of the Report and Its Implications for the World Commission on Dams

Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-making - The Report of the World Commission on Dams

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	17794 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	403 pages

FREE