DAMS & SUSTAINABILITY ICOLD Webinars

 

Dams and Sustainability

Committee T of ICOLD has planned a series of webinars dedicated to the sustainability of dams in their full life cycle. The first webinar aimed to define the content and what should be addressed in the development of future work. The video of this Webinar#1 is now available here.

 

DAMS & SUSTAINABILITY ICOLD Webinar #1 - 29/05/2024

PROGRAM

 

• Webinar presentation Michel Lino (President of ICOLD)
• Introduction. Objectives & Purpose Luc Deroo (ICOLD TC-T) Francisco Ortega (ICOLD TC-P)
• The framework: SDGs Francisco Ortega (ICOLD TC-P)
• Dams and the environment (social and ecological aspects beyond CHG) Peter Amos (ICOLD TC-G)
• The sustainability of concrete dams Marco Conrad (ICOLD TC-D)
• The LCA method. An example Joachim Verdier (Lhoist Group)
• Accounting externalities and short/long term analysis Lamis Aljounaidi (PIA)
• Various levels of ambition, perimeters and metrics Luc Deroo (ICOLD TC-T)
• Q&A Session
• Moderation Steve Usher (HP&D)

 

 

Report on this webinar prepared by Hydropower and Dams Journal

 

 

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Webinar #2 just released - 07 May 2025

 

 

This second Webinar is intended to introduce the general principles of a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) methodology. The LCSA comprises not only environmental LCA, but also social and economic life cycle cost assessment. ICOLD has invited a distinguished group of experts to present the key components of the LCSA and examples of how it is applied in other sectors, with the aim of adapting it to dams and reservoirs.

 

The webinar features the following presentations:

• Webinar presentation - Luc Deroo & Francisco Ortega (TC-T of ICOLD)
• General introduction to LCSA with a focus on dam-specific aspects - Sonia Valdivia (World Resources Forum)
• Sustainability criteria from the perspective of funding institutions - Nicholas Zmijewski (World Bank)
• Tools and methods of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) that are applicable to dams and reservoirs - Kimberly Lyon (World Bank / HSA Council Chair)
• Sustainability framework for earthworks - Jean-Pierre Magnan (EU Working Group on Sustainable Earthworks)
• Life cycle cost assessment of dams - Alena Raymond (AmSpec)
• Biodiversity footprint and LCA: Case studies and analyses - Bonaventure Fontanier (EDF)
• Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA): An example from the mining sector - Isabel Wolf (Technical University of Berlin)

 

 

Report on this webinar prepared by Hydropower and Dams Journal

 

 

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!! NEW !! Webinar #3- GHG Emissions from Dams & Reservoirs

November 20, 2025 1pm - 3pm (CET) Free event

 

 

This Webinar #3 will focus on calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the life cycle of dams. GHG emissions are the main cause of global climate change. Researching and calculating GHG emissions is essential to identifying potential areas for emissions reduction in all human activities, including dams. ICOLD has invited a distinguished group of speakers to present this important topic, beginning with a general introduction and then moving on to more specific aspects related to GHG emissions associated with dams and reservoirs.

 

View the flyer

 

NEW December 2025>>> REPLAY OF THIS WEBINAR IS NOW ONLINE

 

 

Program

• Introduction Devendra Sharma (President of ICOLD)

• Webinar presentation Francisco Ortega (Fosce, ICOLD TC-T)

• GHG emissions and climate change Steve Usher (Aqua-Media Int., ICOLD TC-D)

• GHG Protocol and the LSR Standard Alejandra Bosch (GHG Protocol)

• Life-cycle GHG emissions of dams Marco Conrad (Afry, ICOLD TC-D)

• Collecting data of GHG emissions from reservoirs: how relevant it is and how efficient it can be! Maud Demarty (Aqua-Consult, ICOLD TC-Y)

• G-res tool: current methodology and future development Yves Prairie (Université du Québec à Montréal)

• Methodology for accounting GHG emissions in the construction of dams Francisco Ortega (Fosce, ICOLD TC-T)

• From wastewater to reservoirs: Unlocking the potential of methane capture Eliana Bohórquez-Bedoya (Bluemethane)

• Decision-making system for calculating the life cycle carbon footprint of dams in China Chunna Liu (IWHR)

• Q&A Session Moderation by Steve Usher (HP&D)

 

 

Report on this webinar prepared by Hydropower and Dams Journal

 

 

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Environmental Sustainability of Dams & Reservoirs

ICOLD WEBINAR #4
November 25, 2026
1pm - 3pm (CET)
Free event

This Webinar #4 will focus on the environmental aspects of the sustainability of dams and reservoirs beyond GHG emissions. This webinar will explore the interaction between dams and reservoirs and river ecosystems, and its impact on biodiversity. Topics covered will include water quality, sediment management and environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of these infrastructures. Finally, it will present design and operational strategies aimed at minimising ecological disruption and enhancing sustainability. ICOLD has invited a distinguished group of speakers to present this important topic.

 

To pre-register, please send an email with your name, country and affiliation to dams.sustainability@icold-cigb.org. (a ZOOM registration link will be sent to your email address prior to the event)

 

View the flyer

 

Program

• Introduction
  Devendra Sharma (President of ICOLD)
• Webinar presentation
  Francisco Ortega (ICOLD TC-DS)
• ICOLD and the environmental aspects of the sustainability of dams and reservoirs
  Peter Amos & Tracey Williamson (ICOLD TC-G)
• Improving outcomes: dams and freshwater ecosystems
  Jian-hua Meng (WWF)
• Biodiversity footprint tools for hydropower and dams
  Leah Beche (ICOLD TC-G)
• World Bank’s approach to biodiversity
  Nicholas Zmijewski (World Bank)
• Downstream flow and sustainability of dams and river systems – Indicators & tools
  Liza Bensasson (ICOLD TC-U)
• Recovery of river connectivity and restoration of sediment transport environment
  Tetsuya Sumi (ICOLD TC-J)
• Use of biodiversity offsets to improve sustainability outcomes
  Kogi Naidoo & Joseph Mülders (ICOLD TC-G)
• Assessment of water quality throughout the operational life cycle of dams and reservoirs
  Patrick Rouquet (ISL)
• Q&A Session
  Moderation by Steve Usher (HP&D)

 

Technical support from the Spanish National Committee on Large Dams

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