OUR VISION

Our vision is to enable a world where all hydropower projects foster healthy ecosystems, prosperous communities, resilient infrastructure, and good governance.

At the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, we are committed to driving positive change in the hydropower sector through a multi-stakeholder platform that fosters accountability and knowledge-building. Recognising hydropower's key role in the transition to a zero-carbon world, our mission is to promote best practices and innovative solutions, empowering stakeholders to embrace environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically viable hydropower projects.

Together, we unlock the full potential of hydropower to help communities thrive, support healthy ecosystems, and power the transition to a cleaner energy landscape.

OUR PRIORITY AREAS

Advancing sustainability in the
hydropower sector

Building a knowledge hub for
sustainability in hydropower

Contributing to a regenerative and
nature positive future

OUR STORY

  • University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections

    Early to mid-1900s

    Our journey begins in the early 1900s when hydropower emerges as a beacon of progress, offering a cost-effective and reliable solution to meet the world's energy demands. At this time, sustainability concerns take a back seat to development aspirations, and the sustainability performance of hydropower projects goes largely unquestioned.

  • 1980s

    The 1980s mark a turning point as global environmental, social, and governance activism gains momentum. Alarmed by the potential adverse impacts of hydropower projects, projects around the world face delays and cancellations due to mounting concerns. This sparks a reevaluation of hydropower's role in development and a push for a deeper understanding of its environmental and social ramifications.

  • 2000s

    A defining moment emerges with the unveiling of the World Commission on Dams Report in 2000. This revolutionary report illuminates the intricate impacts of dams, encompassing hydropower, and unfolds a path towards sustainability. The strategic priorities outlined in the report would go on to shape the foundation of our very own Theory of Change.

  • 2004

    The International Hydropower Association releases a set of sustainability guidelines, aligning with the strategic priorities outlined by the World Commission on Dams report. Two years later, an assessment protocol takes shape, designed to evaluate performance against these guidelines.

  • 2010

    The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol is unveiled. Since its launch, it has been embraced by over 25 countries, guiding hydropower developers worldwide in adopting improved practices to enhance sustainability. In 2018, we introduce additional resources: an ESG gap analysis tool and a set of good practice guidelines, both aligned with the environmental and social standards of the World Bank Group.

  • 2020

    A 90-day global consultation commences in November 2020, aimed at elevating the Hydropower Sustainability Tools to a global standard for sustainable hydropower. The outcome of the consultation leads to the birth of the Standard, formally launched by the Hydropower Sustainability Council in September 2021. The vision is clear: to make sustainable hydropower the new norm.

  • 2023

    Building on this momentum, the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance comes into being as a non-profit umbrella organization. By uniting diverse groups under a single banner, the alliance aims to accelerate progress and collaboration, forging a future where hydropower stands as a beacon of sustainable energy for generations to come.

Theory of change

Sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement to good, better and best practice; for hydropower, this Theory of Change is the roadmap. It outlines the plan to work towards and ultimately seek to achieve the vision of a sustainable hydropower sector. It defines desired impacts and then maps out the pathways needed to achieve these impacts. The Theory of Change also provides a guiding framework to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. It allows understanding of the causal relationships between activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts.