Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydroelectric Dams in Brazilian Amazonia: Implications for the Aluminum Industry. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fearnside, Philip M.
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 77(2016)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: aluminum industry -- Amazonia -- energy policy -- global warming -- hydroelectric dams -- Brazil; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.08.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: Decisions on dams ignore the high impact and low benefit of aluminum exports. Were impacts given appropriate weight, policies on dams and exports would change. Dams impact global warming, local populations, indigenous peoples, and biodiversity. Electricity is the principal input for aluminum smelting. Summary: Aluminum smelting consumes large amounts of electricity and helps drive dam-building worldwide. Brazil plans to build dozens of hydroelectric dams in its Amazon region and in neighboring countries. Benefits are much less than is portrayed, partly because electricity is exported in electro-intensive products such as aluminum, creating little employment in Brazil. Dams perversely affect politics and social policies. Aluminum export offers an example of how a rethinking of energy use needs to be the starting point for revising energy policy. Dam impacts have been systematically underestimated, including population displacement and loss of livelihood (especially fisheries), biodiversity loss, and greenhouse-gas emissions.