Icold, Global Agencies Issue Africa Dams, Hydro Declaration

摘要

The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) and other international agencies are urging lenders to work with African nations to undertake hydropower development on a large scale. "Conditions are now ripe for hydropower development in Africa and this is a period of unique opportunity," the World Declaration on Dams and Hydropower for African Sustainable Development said. The declaration was approved at ICOLD's 80th anniversary celebration in Paris in November 2008. Other signatories were the African Union; Union of Producers, Transporters, and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa; the World Energy Council; the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage; and the International Hydropower Association. "We call on multilateral and bilateral funding agencies to engage with African countries on hydropower development, promoting national and regional project development facilities and innovative funding mechanisms," the declaration said. The groups said governments, financing agencies, and industry have developed policies, frameworks, and guidelines for evaluation and mitigation of environmental and social effects, and for addressing concerns of vulnerable communities affected by hydropower development.