Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 38 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts Strategic environmental assessment International environmental conventions Environmental flows Cumulative impacts Cultural assessments Health assessments Greenhouse gas emissions Mitigation measures Hydropower industry's approach What do ADB policies say? VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

What do ADB policies say?

Emphasizing that environmental assessment is a process rather than a one-time report, ADB increasingly sees environmental considerations as influencing the planning processes and the selection of projects in its country and regional portfolios.

'At the earliest planning stage, ADB seeks to ensure that environmental considerations are properly mainstreamed into country strategies'…(para 19 & OM section 20)

In 2002, ADB approved a new Environment Policy governing its operations, introducing a more upstream approach to addressing environmental issues. The revised business processes require a critical and detailed evaluation of environmental issues before the country strategy and program are finalized, (Business Processes for the Reorganized AD, App2, p1).

Dam projects are normally considered as Category A projects for which environmental impact assessment (EIA) and development of an environmental management plan (EMP) are mandatory. Concerns raised during the planning processes need to adequately addressed in the EIA and EMP for a project to receive ADB support.

The following extracts from ADB's policies, strategies and procedures provide guidance and direction on the inclusion of environmental issues in ADB's operations.

• Long Term Strategic Framework
• Environment Policy
• Sectoral policies: Water, Energy, Forestry and Fisheries
• Indigenous Peoples
• Disclosure of Information

Note: the extracts are indicative examples - use the links to view the full text of the policies.

Back Hydropower industry's approach	Next VI. Benefit distribution