World Commission on Dams / Press Releases

Berkeley, California – The two biggest public banks in Europe, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), have announced that they will take into account the international standards for dam-building set by the World Commission on Dams (WCD).

HSBC, one of the world’s largest banks, announced a new freshwater policy at their Annual General Meeting in London today. The policy prohibits lending for dams that do not comply with the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams.

Independent Commission to Review World’s Dams

Dam critics and proponents have agreed to work together to establish a top–level commission to review the social, economic and environmental costs and benefits of the world’s dams, recommend international standards on dam construction and assess sustainable and equitable methods of land and water management and energy production. The review will also make recommendations on repairing the environmental damage done by existing dams and on reparations for people whose livelihoods have suffered because of dams.