ICOLD WEBINAR #4: Environmental Sustainability of Dams & Reservoirs (25 November 2026)

Environmental Sustainability of Dams & Reservoirs

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

In 2023, the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) launched the Dams and Sustainability (D&S) initiative, which brings together the efforts of several technical committees. The main objective of the D&S initiative is to raise awareness among dam professionals about the need to improve the sustainability and life cycle thinking of existing and new dams. It also seeks to investigate appropriate tools and methodologies for assessing the social, economic and environmental sustainability of dams and reservoirs.

To date, the ICOLD D&S group has organised three Webinars. The first, which took place in May 2024, presented the main sustainability goals and objectives of this new ICOLD initiative. The second Webinar, held in May 2025, introduced Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) methods. The third Webinar focused on climate change and the estimation of GHG emissions. Full videos of all three webinars are available here.

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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