With climate change an ever-increasing threat, a sufficient and sustainable supply of electricity to the world’s population is one of today’s greatest challenges.
The current global system of electricity production, which includes nearly 20% hydroelectricity, is still failing large parts of the world's population. Close to 2 billion people have no access to electricity.
"At particular sites, hydroelectricity can provide low-greenhouse gas emission electricity that is particularly useful for meeting peak loads." – WWF Climate Solutions
Global energy needs are rising rapidly, but reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil is rapidly leading to climate change.
“Green” solutions such as better
energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, including
solar,
wind,
biomass,
geothermal, and hydropower, all contribute to the way forward.
But in the case of hydropower, renewable isn’t always sustainable
Hydropower is a renewable energy source, but hydropower plants can have huge
impacts on people and the
environment.
The scale of the environmental and social damage caused by the construction and operation of some hydropower stations is such that they fail to pass the sustainability test: their negative effects outweigh their contributions to renewable energy.
Yet sustainable hydropower is possible
In its 'Climate Solutions Report: WWF's Vision for 2050', WWF commits itself to an expansion of sustainable hydropower.
In this report, it argues that sustainable hydroelectricity is a necessary and available option to help prevent the world’s average temperature from
rising 2°C. Specifically, it suggests repowering old existing hydropower dams and installing sustainable new small, medium, and large hydropower projects.
