Activities of Isabella LÖVIN related to 2010/2270(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on financing of reinforcement of dam infrastructure in developing countries PDF (160 KB) DOC (87 KB)
Amendments (34)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Environment Programme report 'High Mountain Glaciers and Climate Change of 8 November 2010,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)
Citation 6 c (new)
- having regard to the report of the World Commission on Dams: "A new framework for decision-making", 16 November 2000,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU does not finance dam infrastructure, but does allocate resources to trade-related infrastructure, physical infrastructure including transport and storage, communications and energy generation and supplyuropean Investment Bank has been involved in a number of large dam projects, including in Asia (such as Laos and Pakistan),
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas the report of the World Commission on Dams of 16 November 2000 concludes that, while large dams have failed to produce as much electricity, provide as much water, or control as much flood damage as foreseen, they have had huge social and environmental impacts, and efforts to mitigate these impacts have been largely unsuccessful,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
E c. whereas dams reservoirs emit greenhouse gases, including methane due to the rotting of vegetation,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the World Commission on Dams estimates that some 40 - 80 million people have been physically displaced by dams worldwide,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas the World Commission on Dams concludes that large dams have led in many cases to significant and irreversible loss of species and ecosystems; and whereas understanding, protecting and restoring ecosystems at river basin level is essential to foster equitable human development and the welfare of all species,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that it is least developed countries (LDCs) that, owing to a lack of early warn are the most vulnerable to the effects of flooding; systems, reliable building construction and the precarious nature of their economies, are the most vulnerable to the effects of flooding and would most benefit from the implementation of effective dam infrastructuresupports the recommendations of the UNEP to face flooding, according to which improved land management must be combined with improved storage methods that rely on traditional and more current scientific knowledge; advocates the rehabilitation and restoration of critical ecosystems ranging from forests to wetlands which can enhance water supplies and act as buffers against extreme climatic events such as flooding;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Highlights that global warming will affect patterns of precipitation, impacts on glaciers and ice, representing therefore a growing challenge in terms of food security;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Further notes that owing to the documented acceleration of glacial melting, prevalent in the Himalayas and the Andes, mountainous regions are increasingly at threat from floods and avalanches; points out however that glacial melt is not the only factor affecting water flows in the Himalayas, but that timing and intensity of the monsoon, other rainfall and especially land use practices such as deforestation, overgrazing, agricultural systems and settlement patterns are determinant; in particular, stresses that deforestation frequently increases the rate and speed of the flow of water into major channels, while floods arising from "glacier lake outburst floods" (GLOFs) are often exacerbated by unsustainable land use practices;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Deplores the utter lack of flood prevention measures in many LDCs, and recognises the need for increased and sustainable dam infrastructuresems essential to adopt a multi- pronged flood strategy in regions where there is a critical threat of floods posed by unstable glacial lakes, exacerbated by the effects of global warming andon precipitation patterns and by black carbon deposits, proved to accelerate glacial retreat; deplores accordingly the utter lack of flood prevention measures in many LDCs; but warns against relying on large dams to face flood damages, especially in a context of climate change, whereby extreme precipitation events are likely to increase the intensity and frequency of flash floods, thereby raising concerns of dam safety;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that dams construction must be assessed regarding its impact on river flows; the rights of access to water and river resources; whether the dam will uproot existing settlements, disrupt the culture and sources of livelihood of local communities, or deplete or degrade environmental resources;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Underlines that the World Commission on Dam concludes, in its report entitled "Dams and Development: a New Framework for Decision-Making" of 16 November 2000, that the economic profitability of large dam projects remains elusive, as the environmental and social costs of large dams were poorly accounted for in economic terms;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Recalls also that the World Commission on Dams indicate that poor, other vulnerable groups and future generation are likely to bear a disproportionate share of the social and environmental costs of large dam projects without gaining a commensurate share of the economic benefits;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) has identified over 8 000 glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush- Himalayas alone, 203 of which, because of the nature of their location and the instability of their naturally occurring dam walls (moraines), are considered to be potentially dangerous;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that the identified glacial lakes in the Himalayas span eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan – and that in the last 50 years there have been 20 identified flash floods, many trans-border in nature, caused by glacial dams bursting;Delete
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that in South Asia an estimated 1.3 billion people rely on the 10 identified perennial river systems, which are fed by 16 000rainfall and runoff from melting snow and glaciers in the Himalayas; urges that the EU prioritise the region so as to forestall future humanitarian disasters caused by the increasing frequency of water-related hazards;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Notes that there is no known method of reinforcing natural glacial lakes, but notes that the UNEP report on "high mountains glaciers and climate change" (2010) mentions other methods to mitigate the effects of an outburst flood by using siphons and constructions of open channels and tunnels in order to lower the water level in the glacial lakes and by controlling the water flow into the local river system to use the water reservoir as a resource;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes the view that unless high- producing agricultural areas are protected from the effects of flooding, emerging economies could seRecalls that if melting of the glaciers in Himalaya are supposed to increase first of all river flows for 2-3 decades, the flows will decrease substantially in the longer term; deems therefore essential to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies to address droughts in the future, i.e. by developing organic farming practises (as they are usually less intensive ain abrupt turnaround in their development and a rapidly growing food security problemwater consumption); by considering change in the cropping patterns to suit the changing climatic situation and water availability; and by focusing on water use efficiency;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Strongly supports the recommendations of the WCD according to which i.e. priority should be given to demand side management measures and optimising the performance of existing infrastructure before building any new projects; no dam should be built without the "consent" or "acceptance" of affected people; periodic participatory reviews should be done for existing dams to assess issues including dam safety and the possibility of dam decommissioning;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights that, without detailed current information concerning areas at risk from water-related hazards, implementing early warning systems, cmonstructing dams and monitoring glacial lakes will prove an insurmountable taskitoring glacial lakes and provide mountainous regions with practical measures for adaptation and mitigation of climate change will prove an insurmountable task; supports the initiative called Himalayan University Consortium started by local universities to cooperate with further scientific studies in the matter;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that major infrastructure facilities, vital to promoting the EU's policy objectives of sustainableRecommends that financing agencies (bilateral aid agencies, multilateral development band enhanced food security in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals,ks, Export Credit Agencies, EIB), should ensure that any dam option for which financing is approved results from an agre increasingly at risk from the effects of flooding, and must be safeguardeded process of ranking of alternatives regarding irrigation, water storage and hydropower and respect World Commission Dam guidelines;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Encourages financing institutions and the EU to finance capacity building and training in improved land management and improved water management storage methods that take scientific, technological and the revival of old knowledge such as ancient traditional irrigation systems into account as outlined in the UNEP report ‘ High mountain glaciers and climate change’ ; considers that all financing from the EU shall respond to the promotion of the EU’s policy objectives of sustainable development and food security in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges that constructing and reinforcHighlights the importance of a consensus-based decision making process ing dams in LDCs is not enough to safeguard vulnerable areas and calls for a concerted effort in dealing with the root of the problem, not merely the symptom, thus preventing the wasteful spending of EU taxpayers' money; buildings, a primary recommendation of the World Commission on Dams; takes the view that a comprehensive assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on dams is urgently needed in the Himalayas; this should not only assess the risks in terms of safety and performance, but should also recommend alternative approaches to cope with these risks; likewise, such assessment should not just look at the hydropower aspect but at the larger role of rivers in meeting needs of energy, water supply, agriculture, irrigation, food security and livelihoods;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Reiterates its conviction that small hydropower dams are more sustainable and economically viable than large hydropower; in particular, stresses that decentralised, small-scale options (micro hydro, home-scale solar electric systems, wind and biomass systems) based on local renewable resources are more appropriate in rural areas far away from centralised supply networks;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that black carbon remains as prevalent a cause as carbon dioxide in its effect upon glacial retreat; in particular, recalls that black carbon and ozone in the lower atmosphere are harmful air pollutants which damage health, reduce life expectancy; exacerbates melting of snow and ice around the world, including in the Arctic, the Himalayas and other glaciated and snow-covered regions; highlights that ozone is also the most important air pollutant responsible for reducing crop yields, and thus affects food security; Notes that methane is an important precursor to ozone formation and that reductions of methane emissions also reduce formation of ozone;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges immediate action towards the reduction of black carbon and methane emissions as a fast-action method of halting glacial and snow melting; recommends that, given the short atmospheric life of black carbon and methane, combined mitigation by means of fast-action strategies could dramatically and rapidly alleviate the threat of GLOFs;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls upon the EU to promote existing technology that drastically reduces black carbon emissions; further urges that regulations banning slash-and-burn tactics in forests, enforcing stringthe 16 different measures to reduce emissions of black carbon and methane that are presented in the UNEP report 'Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone' to achieve both air quality improvements and regular vehicle emissions tests, limiting biomass burning and monitoring the annual emissions of power plants must be supported and encouragednear-term climate benefits in its dialogue with developing countries and work towards a broadening of different existing regional air pollution prevention agreements on the basis of the work within the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution CLRTAP;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Points at the on-going negotiations to include black carbon in the revision of the Gothenburg protocol of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution CLRTAP as a model and stresses the need to follow up the UNEP report 'Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone' by elaborating a Global Action Plan to reduce emissions of short lived climate forcers;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Further suggests that dam projects could easily be implemented as so-called ‘fast-win’ projects provided that a number of social, economic and environmental criteria are meStresses that any planning of dams should be evaluated according to five values: equity, efficiency, participatory decision-making, sustainability and accountability; more broadly, urges that the decision-making process on dams takes fully into account the notion of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the related covenants adopted thereafter, so as to resolve complex issues surrounding water, dams and development; in particular, recalls that where projects affect indigenous and tribal peoples, such processes must be guided by their free, prior and informed consent;