Irreplaceable freshwater species and habitats on which humanity depends are being lost at a faster rate than on land or in seas; world leaders must prioritize urgent and targeted actions to protect and restore these ecosystems and defend the rights of Indigenous and marginalized communities disproportionately affected by these losses. For Immediate Release: October 11,…
Read MoreEvent: Marañón River: Presentación de la demanda para proteger los ríos de la Amazonia
October 7th, 11am Peru time (PET) (UTC -5) Livestreamed on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/Trnskv4w
Read MoreTo reach the ambitious goals of the Leticia Pact, nations need to ensure the participation of Indigenous people in measures to protect the Amazon Rainforest.
After more than 25 years working to protect rainforests and now as the Amazon Program Director in International Rivers, I’m well acquainted with the Amazon Rainforest. And yet I can’t help being blown away by its beauty and richness. One of the most social and biodiverse places in the world, the Amazon Rainforest is home…
Read MoreWorld Rivers Day Celebration for the Rights of Rivers
Watch partners Arts for the Commons (A4C) launch their new project, Voices of the Rivers as they celebrate World Rivers day and discuss the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Rivers andthe growing, global #RightsofRivers movement. Check out our new map highlighting the cases and river defenders and organizations campaigning to protect rivers. Find out…
Read MoreStatement | IHA Sustainability Prize Illustrates A Disconnect with Reality and Continued Greenwashing of Dams
Yesterday, during its biennial World Hydropower Congress, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) awarded its “Blue Planet” prize for sustainability to the Teesta-V hydropower project in India, noting it “met or exceeded” good practice in its assessment against the IHA’s own sustainability tools. International Rivers responded that Teesta-V is a highly problematic project that has engendered…
Read MoreIndigenous and environmental activists delivered a Jatoba tree to Norway’s embassy, protesting against the destruction of Amazon rainforest
On September 21, a Jatoba tree was accepted as a refugee at the Norwegian embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. The symbolic gesture was an action proposed by indigenous umbrella organization, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) and GT Infra, to raise awareness about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Yesterday morning, the native tree…
Read MoreAdvancing Pico / Micro Hydropower in the Ganga, Meghna, Brahmaputra, and Salween River Basins
By Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET) Originally published on HPNet’s website The river basins of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Salween (GBMS) Rivers are endowed with rich natural resources, exceptional biodiversity, and vibrant indigenous cultures. Yet social and environmental well-being continue to be undermined by large hydro development, as decision makers seek economic prosperity and economic…
Read MorePress Release | 300 organizations from 69 countries call on governments to not use climate funding for so-called “sustainable” hydropower schemes
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Glasgow, Scotland— 300 organizations from 69 countries today launched a Rivers for Climate Global Declaration calling on governments and leaders attending COP26 to protect river ecosystems and stop using scarce climate funds to finance false climate solutions such as hydropower. Representing the views of civil society, peoples movements, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, scientists,…
Read MorePress Release | Advocates at IUCN Congress Highlight a Wave of New Support for the Rights of Rivers
For immediate release: September 8, 2021 Contacts: 1. Monti Aguirre, International Rivers (707-591-1220; monti@internationalrivers.org) 2. Grant Wilson, Earth Law Center (510-566-1063; gwilson@earthlaw.org) Marseille, France—Today, advocates from across the globe gathered at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (both in person and remotely) to highlight the precipitous growth of the movement to recognize the rights of rivers and…
Read MorePress Release | Civil Society Groups Across Asia demand the ADB recalibrate its Draft Energy Policy in line with climate and community realities
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Manila, Philippines –Civil society groups across South, Southeast and Central Asia are raising the alarm as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gears up to announce a new Energy Policy that — unless recalibrated — will fail to reflect the realities of climate science and local peoples’ burning concerns. On September 6th, the…
Read MorePress Release | Riverscope: A New Geospatial Tool To Assess the True Costs and Financial Risks of Hydropower
For immediate release OXFORD, UK and OAKLAND, US, August 25, 2021—A new geospatial assessment tool for hydropower, Riverscope, launched today. Riverscope was developed by TMP Systems in collaboration with International Rivers. It is the first comprehensive tool to assess often-overlooked environmental and social risks and connect them quantitatively to the commercial performance of hydropower projects….
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