News

On June 3, 2025, the World Bank approved $250 million funding for the Inga 3 Dam, a mega hydropower project on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  At International Rivers, we believe that healthy rivers and empowered communities are essential to building a just, climate-resilient future, and we support Congolese community…

International Rivers expresses its profound concern over yesterday’s passage of Bill 2159/21 in the Brazilian Congress, which guts key, longstanding procedures for environmental licensing. If signed into law by President Lula, this legislation would undo decades of progress that has been instrumental in limiting the environmental and social harms from extractive projects and infrastructure projects…

For centuries, Indigenous communities in the Tapajós River basin have fostered a spiritual connection to their river. “The Tapajós River is a precious river. It is a road, a source of life, of drinking and bathing. It is also a provider: There are tracajá, fish, all these animals that are very important to us,” Father…

By Maureen Harris, Senior Advisor June 24, 2025, marks a grim anniversary: four years since environmental lawyer Dang Dinh Bach was unjustly arrested in Vietnam. Bach’s imprisonment — deemed arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention — is a profound injustice, silencing an important voice dedicated to a more sustainable future for communities…

June 24, 2025 – Four years ago this month, environmental lawyer and climate justice advocate Dang Dinh Bach (Bach) was unjustly arrested in his home and imprisoned by the Vietnamese authorities. As we mark the fourth anniversary of his detention, we renew our urgent call for his immediate and unconditional release. Bach’s imprisonment represents a…

Dear International Rivers Community, The Board of Directors wishes to express our gratitude and appreciation to Isabella Winkler for her dedicated service and significant contributions as Co-Director of International Rivers. Over the past three years, Isabella has played a vital role in navigating the organization through challenging times and implementing substantial positive changes. Her strategic vision…

Free-flowing rivers operate as the arteries of our planet. They connect high mountains to lush, food-generating lakes, deltas, and coasts. Free-flowing rivers help regulate natural carbon cycles and influence weather patterns. They evoke a sense of awe and provide food, freshwater, medicinal herbs, transportation, economic security, recreation, and more. Indigenous communities regard them as sacred,…

By Kate Fried Last fall, Indigenous communities in northern California noticed a surprising new development in the Klamath River: a sudden abundance of salmon. Less than a month earlier, the final remains of four large dams on the Klamath were removed, marking a triumphant victory for communities that, for decades, had fought to take them…