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Population, water, food, energy and dams

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  • Chen, Ji
  • Shi, Haiyun
  • Sivakumar, Bellie
  • Peart, Mervyn R.

Abstract

Should the construction of large dams continue? This question has raised an enormous amount of controversy in recent years, in terms of both socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. This paper addresses this question through a study of some key global socio-economic data (population and water, food, and energy consumption) and the vital role of large dams in sustaining societies. The analysis indicates that construction of large dams has essentially been the result of population growth and the associated consequence of increased consumption of water, food and energy. With population projections indicating continued growth in the future (especially in the developing and least developed countries), dam construction should be considered in order to meet future water demands, and it is time that human beings think more about how to better construct, operate and maintain dams and reduce their negative impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Ji & Shi, Haiyun & Sivakumar, Bellie & Peart, Mervyn R., 2016. "Population, water, food, energy and dams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 18-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:56:y:2016:i:c:p:18-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.11.043
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    7. Zida Song & Quan Liu & Zhigen Hu, 2020. "Decision-Making Framework, Enhanced by Mutual Inspection for First-Stage Dam Construction Diversion Scheme Selection," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(2), pages 563-577, January.
    8. Zeng, X.T. & Zhang, J.L. & Yu, L. & Zhu, J.X. & Li, Z. & Tang, L., 2019. "A sustainable water-food-energy plan to confront climatic and socioeconomic changes using simulation-optimization approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 743-759.
    9. Karimov, Akmal Kh. & Smakhtin, Vladimir & Karimov, Aziz A. & Khodjiev, Khalim & Yakubov, Sadyk & Platonov, Alexander & Avliyakulov, Mirzaolim, 2018. "Reducing the energy intensity of lift irrigation schemes of Northern Tajikistan- potential options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2967-2975.
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    13. Legese, Getachew & Van Assche, Kristof & Stellmacher, Till & Tekleworld, Hailemariam & Kelboro, Girma, 2018. "Land for food or power? Risk governance of dams and family farms in Southwest Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 50-59.
    14. Batista Mattos, Jonatas & Brito Silva, Kaique & da Silva, Roberto José & Mota Almeida, Thiara Helena & Sibilla Soares Póvoas, Hogana & da Silva, Paulo Vagner Ribeiro & de Araújo Góes, Ingrid Matos & d, 2019. "Natural factors or environmental neglect? Understanding the dilemma of a water crisis in a scenario of water plenty," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 509-517.
    15. Calvi, Miquéias Freitas & Moran, Emilio F. & Silva, Ramon Felipe Bicudo da & Batistella, Mateus, 2020. "The construction of the Belo Monte dam in the Brazilian Amazon and its consequences on regional rural labor," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    16. Román-Collado, Rocío & Cansino, José M. & Botia, Camilo, 2018. "How far is Colombia from decoupling? Two-level decomposition analysis of energy consumption changes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 687-700.

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