New NGO Guide on Chinese Dams Around the World

International Rivers report announcement:
New NGO Guide on Chinese Dams Around the World

Chinese dam builders have come to dominate the world market. Civil
society groups have documented serious social and environmental impacts
with numerous Chinese dams in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A new
guide published by International Rivers explains how NGOs can influence
Chinese dam builders and advocate for social and environmental interests.

In the past 10 years, Chinese companies and financiers have rapidly
rolled up the global dam building market. Chinese companies and
financiers are involved in more than 300 overseas dam projects, and
Sinohydro, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, has become the world's
biggest hydropower company. With more than 80 projects completed, under
construction and in the pipeline, Africa is one of the focus areas of
Chinese overseas dam building.

Although they have become global actors, Chinese dam builders don't
always follow international social and environmental standards. Chinese
financiers have for example agreed to fund the Merowe Dam in Sudan and
the Gibe III Dam in Ethiopia after numerous multilateral development
banks and Western banks declined to get involved because of their social
and environmental impacts. Chinese projects have also provoked
opposition in Burma, Honduras, Malaysia and other countries.

In recent years, civil society groups have found ways to engage with and
influence the projects and policies of Chinese dam builders. After
protests by local communities and NGOs, Chinese companies and financiers
had to suspend projects in Burma and Gabon, and withdrew from operations
in Cambodia. Sinohydro is engaged in a dialogue with Chinese and
international NGOs, and has prepared an environmental policy that puts
it at the forefront of the international hydropower industry. Chinese
government agencies have also issued guidelines for foreign investors to
protect the environment and respect local communities in their host
countries.

A new guide published by International Rivers presents the lessons of
past experience and informs interested NGOs how they can best influence
the projects and policies of Chinese dam builders and advocate for
social and environmental interests. The report provides an overview of
the relevant actors, laws and standards in the Chinese dam building
sector, including Sinohydro's new environmental policy. It presents case
studies of how NGOs have influenced Chinese overseas projects, and
concludes with a list of addresses and other useful information.

Entitled "The New Great Walls," the 60-page report is available at
www.internationalrivers.org/node/3962. Translations into Chinese and
Spanish are planned for early 2013. Please contact Katy Yan at
International Rivers (katy@internationalrivers.org) if you would like to
organize a civil society training with the new guide, or suggest
translations into other languages.
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