The United Nations Symposium on Hydropower and Sustainable Development in Beijing, attended by more than 500 delegates from government and non-governmental organisations, business and industry representatives, environmental and social scientists and financing agencies, culminated in the Beijing Declaration – a consensus statement that will now be submitted to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.
The Declaration calls for tangible action to help developing countries finance sustainable hydro power through loans and grants. It recognises the World Bank and regional development banks' plans to re-engage, but called for similar commitments from bilateral agencies to assist in the development of affordable and sustainable hydro power. It also urged developing-country governments to create a favourable environment for co-financing from private investors, including strengthening "a transparent regulatory framework
Participants noted that some two billion people, around one third of the world's population, have no access to electricity, which blights their prospects for improvement in water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity. Hydro power can play a major role in meeting this need, if developed in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
The 27-29 October Symposium was co-hosted by the World Bank, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and the Chinese government's National Development and Reform Commission.
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External weblinksInternational Hydropower Association Beijing Declaration
