Greenhouse Gas and Other Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts of Hydropower: A Literature Review
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Photo: Itaipu Dam in Brazil, taken by the International Hydropower Association on July 8, 2011
This literature review, produced by the USAID Climate Economic Analysis for Development, Investment, and Resilience (CEADIR) activity, summarizes the greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental, and social and cultural impacts of hydropower that should be considered in planning, construction, and operation of hydropower dams. It also describes the financial and economic benefits and costs of hydropower. This review focuses on hydropower systems with a primary purpose of electricity generation.