COP27- Centering the protection of Rivers and Rights in achieving climate justice

In November, 2022, Rios to Rivers and International Rivers invited leaders from indigenous communities impacted by hydro development in the Congo, Bolivia, Chile, and the United States to participate and present their experiences at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. During a COP27 session on November 15, 2022, regarding “Centering the protection of Rivers and Rights in achieving climate justice,” these delegates shared the negative impacts that hydro development projects have had on their communities. Lessons learned and common challenges were shared by the participants: Danielle Frank, Klamath Basin Hupa Tribe Member; Osvaldo Duran, FECON; Emmanuel Musuyu, CORAP; Mignonne Mbombo, Femmes Solidaires; Valentin Luna Rios & Nicole Cuqui, Beni River Basin; Brook Thompson, Yurok Tribe Member & Karuk Chief; Caleen Sisk, Winneman Wintu Tribe; and Siziwe Mota, International Rivers.

Native Americans from the United States noted that our rivers were dammed a hundred years ago, and now dams are being removed. It is increasingly recognized that it is more important to have a healthy river and restore our food sources and the ecosystem than to have energy generated by a dam. In Chile, it was noted that people are still suffering the negative impacts of dams that were built 25-30 years ago on the Biobío River. For the Pehuenche Mapuche communities of the region, it is a never-ending fight -- they are again fighting plans to build yet another dam on the Biobío River. In both the Congo and Bolivia, mega-dams are planned in some of the most biodiverse areas of the world, areas that are crucial for global climate regulation and carbon sequestration. For Don Valentín Luna, the president of the Commonwealth of the Beni River Basin Indigenous Communities in the Bolivian Amazon, attending the conference was his first time outside of his country.  During his speech and with tears in his eyes, he shared the injustices of the agricultural expansion that encroaches on indigenous territories, the upstream gold mining that poisons indigenous river communities, and the Chepete-Bala mega hydroelectric project that threatens to flood villages within two national parks. He beseeches the UN and the world to listen to their plight, and take action to protect people and the environment.

In addition to supporting the attendance of indigenous representatives to this international conference, Rios to Rivers and International Rivers have collaborated to form the Rivers for Climate Coalition, “representing civil society, peoples movements, Indigenous Peoples organizations, scientists, conservationists.” On September 21, 2021, the coalition of 300 organizations from 69 countries, called  “upon Alok Sharma, the 2021 President of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP-26), and all parties to COP-26, to reject attempts by the hydropower industry to secure scarce climate funds to finance a new wave of hydropower projects.”  Their continuing UnDam the UN campaign to stop recognizing hydropower as clean energy aims to show that dams do not equal carbon offset, and the energy produced by dams should not count towards the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of countries.

Concerns regarding hydroelectric development have only recently seen an increase in visibility at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), largely thanks to growing indigenous presence and to the UnDam the UN campaign led by the Rivers for Climate Coalition. This shift is evidenced by the fact that 2021 was the first year that water had its own designated pavilion at the conference. Before then, it was grouped with other climate topics such as food security and biodiversity. Yet, mega hydro development remains an elephant in the room. The International Hydropower Association (IHA) continues to publicly promote the benefits of (potentially less impactful and significantly smaller) pumped storage hydro projects while ignoring the fact that conventional forms of mega hydro is proposed front and center in the IEA’s (International Energy Agency) proposed agenda as a global solution to reach net zero. 

Since more than 50-60,000 people attend the annual conference, supporting the attendance of indigenous leaders is important – it has allowed the creation and promotion of connections and a network of indigenous activists, environmental activists, and river stewards. Despite the chaotic feel of the COP conferences, these newly-formed international alliances can strengthen smaller environmental movements to become an even stronger force in the years to come.  Furthermore, much of the world’s remaining biodiversity rests under the management and/or protection of indigenous groups. Their voices, experiences, and guidance are paramount to establishing and achieving climate solutions. When it comes to rivers, indigenous knowledge and participation in conversations are indispensable. 

Still, the path towards genuine and long-lasting sustainability and climate regulation is difficult to see, even by those with the best intentions. Environmental advocates attending the conference don’t always agree on the solution. What does “blue”, “green” or “grey” hydrogen mean in terms of sustainability? Where does hydropower fit in? Does nuclear power have a role to play at all in the global shift from fossil fuels and/or a shift from hydro? These questions are some of the most hotly debated even among environmental advocates. Time will tell how we come to a consensus as humans. It will also tell whether next year’s conference in Dubai will bring more hope for change, or more of the same. 

In the meantime, here is how you can help contribute to the movement: