Harnessing untapped hydropower in the context of the World Commission on Dams

The pressing human development needs for water, food and electricity, as well as the escalating confrontations over resources development, demanded an unprecedented global response by a multi-constituency commission to resolve the high-stakes conflict over how to develop water and energy resources for the benefit of all stakeholders. The assignment from Gland was to tone down the rhetoric between pro- and anti- dam proponents, and to lead that fruitless debate into more constructive channels. The World Commission on Dams convened 12 Commissioners chosen from a list of more than 90 candidates nominated by interest groups. They reflected the diverse hands-on experience of engineers, planners, dam owners, government decision-makers, environmental scientists, affected and indigenous peoples, academics and researchers. The Commissioners were thoroughly aware of the global dams debate, and had a fundamental understanding of the perspectives of the different constituencies involved.