China

The first bend of the Nu River (Wang Yongchen)

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China has more large dams than any other country in the world and Chinese companies are rapidly exporting their dam-building model overseas. Chinese banks and companies are involved in constructing some 300 dams in 66 different countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia.

China at home

Dammed, diverted and polluted, China's rivers are reaching an ecological tipping point. Today there are more than 25,800 large dams in China, including the world's largest hydropower project, the Three Gorges Dam. These projects have forced more than 23 million people from their homes and land, many of whom are still suffering the impacts of displacement and dislocation. Around 30% of China's rivers are severely polluted, and some rivers don't meet the sea anymore.

Yet despite the serious impacts of dam construction in China, the Chinese government has ambitious plans to expand hydropower generation, more almost doubling capacity to 380,000 MW by the year 2020. Huge hydropower cascades have been proposed and are being constructed in what were once some of China's most pristine and diverse river basins ecosystems in the remote southwest - the Lancang (Upper Mekong) and Nu (Salween) Rivers, and upstream of the Three Gorges Dam in the Yangtze River basin.

International Rivers works with the growing Chinese river protection movement to support their calls for a cautious approach to development that balances economic growth and environmental protection, and demanding more transparent and participatory planning processes around hydropower development.

China abroad

Chinese companies and Chinese banks are now the biggest builders and funders of dams around the world. As a result, China has a growing and significant environmental footprint abroad. Many of China's overseas dams do not follow international environmental and social standards. Information and data is also difficult to obtain given the lack of transparency around Chinese overseas investments.

Our role

International Rivers China's program works to highlight the impacts of Chinese dam builders and banks on the world's rivers. We also seek to foster dialogue within China about the responsibilities of Chinese dam builders.