Towards Implementation of the World Commission on Dams Recommendations

Fink, Michael; Cramer, Allan

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-76707-7_2

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“… 23. For a history of the Bui Dam see Fink M (2005). Integrating the world commission on dams recommendations in large dam planning processes: The case of Bui, Ghana.…”

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confidence: 99%

Dam In, Cocoa Out; Pipes In, Oil Out: China’s Engagement in Ghana’s Energy Sector

Odoom

2015

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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Ghana, like other African countries, suffers a huge infrastructure gap. In recent times China has become a major bilateral source of investment in Ghana’s energy infrastructure. This article examines the strategic importance of Chinese infrastructure investment in Ghana’s energy sector in recent times. The study is based on field research conducted by the author in Ghana and on the analysis of semi-structured interviews with Ghanaian policy makers, journalists, civil society organizations, academics and individuals. Additional data were collected on some key projects China has been sponsoring in the energy sector. The paper suggests that China has become a key partner in Ghana’s development efforts as its provision of infrastructural projects soars and its involvement in Ghana’s economy grows. Yet China’s engagement presents a complex dynamic given its dual role as financier of energy infrastructure and at the same time a competitor or seeker of Ghana’s oil and other natural resources.

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“… 23. For a history of the Bui Dam see Fink M (2005). Integrating the world commission on dams recommendations in large dam planning processes: The case of Bui, Ghana.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dam In, Cocoa Out; Pipes In, Oil Out: China’s Engagement in Ghana’s Energy Sector

Odoom

2015

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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“…In the WCD report itself as well as in subsequent publications, the Commissioners were always clear that their work was intended as a starting point and needed adaptation to local contexts (Asmal, ; Scudder, ; WCD, ), and what some criticized as vagueness in its guidelines was perceived as a strength by those hoping for it to be applied globally (Dubash, ; Fink & Cramer, ; Park, ). Some researchers tried to do precisely that, for example, proposing novel practical methodologies for its implementation (e.g., Fink & Cramer, ; Greeff, ; McGee, ; Petersson, Giupponi, & Feás, ; Scodanibbio & Mañez, ).…”

Section: Following Up On the Wcdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In other cases, the notion of “implementing the WCD” has been expressed through emphasis on wide‐ranging stakeholder consultation (Fink & Cramer, ; Greeff, ) or novel processes for public participation (e.g., McGee, ), rather than on technological solutions. Among others, such consultations serve to adapt WCD guidelines to local contexts, for example, by “‘Nepalising’ the WCD's recommendations” (Fink & Cramer, , p. 45).…”

Section: Following Up On the Wcdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Debating dams: The World Commission on Dams 20 years on

Schulz

Adams

2019

WIREs Water

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The World Commission on Dams (WCD) was a global environmental governance forum that worked between 1998 and 2000 to try to resolve long-standing controversies between supporters and opponents of large dams. Its objectives were to assess the development effectiveness of large dams and to develop best practice guidelines for large dam construction and management, based on an extensive review of scientific evidence and wide-ranging stakeholder consultation. This paper reviews literature discussing the WCD, to understand its influence on the debate on large dams and beyond. We find that its influence is debated within four main contexts: (a) interpretations of stakeholder responses to the WCD report and recommendations; (b) the persistence of the kinds of impacts of large dams that gave rise to the Commission's work; (c) the different visions for appropriate follow-up strategies; and (d) insights from the WCD experience in the context of global environmental governance. Within these four contexts, we identify diverse opinions and directions of post-WCD development and sources of disagreement on its merits and legacy, ranging from calls for its full implementation to dismissal and opposition. Commentators also differ in their assessment of whether the WCD sparked truly novel insights and propositions for dam decision-making or whether it simply represented one among many other elements in the broader debate on dams. Most commonly, the WCD's work is cited in the context of persistent negative social and environmental impacts of dams: neither the impacts nor the controversy over large dams have ended. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Planning Water Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water K E Y W O R D S dams, global environmental governance, hydropower, World Commission on Dams

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“…However, such constructions alter ownership and access patterns, often transforming previous customary owners into victims of submergence, and thus creating new rules of access and allocation, concentrating power in the hands of the few (Conca 2006;Molle et al 2009). For instance, the World Commission on Dams' recommendations, although heavily cited, were never seen as entirely legitimate (because of the status of the Commission) (Dingwerth 2004) nor were they actively and effectively implemented (Fink and Cramer 2008;Scheumann 2008;Dore and Lebel 2010b).…”

Section: Water Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Access and allocation in earth system governance: water and climate change compared

Gupta

Lebel

2010

Int Environ Agreements

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A significant percentage of the global population does not yet have access to safe drinking water, sufficient food or energy to live in dignity. There is a continuous struggle to allocate the earth's resources among users and uses. This article argues that distributional problems have two faces: access to basic resources or ecospace; and, the allocation of environmental resources, risks, burdens, and responsibilities for causing problems. Furthermore, addressing problems of access and allocation often requires access to social processes (science, movements and law). Analysts, however, have tended to take a narrow, disciplinary approach although an integrated conceptual approach may yield better answers. This article proposes a multi-disciplinary perspective to the problem of access and allocation and illustrates its application to water management and climate change.

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Towards Implementation of the World Commission on Dams Recommendations

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Dam In, Cocoa Out; Pipes In, Oil Out: China’s Engagement in Ghana’s Energy Sector

Dam In, Cocoa Out; Pipes In, Oil Out: China’s Engagement in Ghana’s Energy Sector

Debating dams: The World Commission on Dams 20 years on

Access and allocation in earth system governance: water and climate change compared

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