Geopolitical Impacts and Indicators

GEOPOLITICAL
IMPACT NAME POSITIVE SCOPE  OF IMPACT NEGATIVE SCOPE  OF IMPACT INDICATOR
GP1: Basin Population Affected Dam provides benefits to basin residents  such as hydropower, irrigation, navigation, water improvements, and employment Dam creates costs to basin residents such as loss of cropland, forced resettlement, damage to fisheries, or loss of livelihood Share of basin population affected either positively or negatively as percentage of entire basin population
GP2: Political Complexity Basin-wide management may increase and induce dialog that fosters improved inter-jurisdictional relations; IWM may lead to greater efficiencies Basin-wide management may lead to greater tensions among riparians and reduces efficiencies Number and type of boundaries crossed. Despite differences in a large dam on a tributary versus a small dam on a tributary, we assume that impacts will nonetheless be basin-wide, and that magnitude and salience will appropriately capture the extent and relevance of those impacts. Source: GIS data/maps
GP3: Legal Framework Strong laws help mitigate the impacts of change; existing basin agreements and associated River Basin Organizations (RBOs) help reduce vulnerability throughout basin Laws and other institutions are weak or nonexistent, and insufficient to mitigate negative impacts or reduce vulnerability Administrative level of highest legal framework governing dam site (e.g., international, county-level, etc.). NB: If potential veto exists due to Endangered Species Act or similar, then check for overall legal feasibility of project
GP4: Domestic Governance – civil society (Democracy Index) Decision processes are open and transparent; governmental management capacity is robust; civil dialogue is open and active Decisions processes are closed and obfuscated; governmental management capacity is limited; civil dialogue is limited/constrained Democracy Index
GP5: Political Stability (intranational) Cooperation during planning, construction, operation, and management phases leads to the establishment or strengthening of institutional arrangements and promotes improved relations among relevant administrative areas (internal) Lack of cooperation during planning, construction, and operation, and management phases, or other conflicts related to project, increases tensions in relations among relevant administrative areas (internal) Internal BAR scale
GP6: Political Stability (international) Cooperation during planning, construction, and operation, and management phases leads to the establishment or strengthening of institutional arrangements and promotes improved relations among relevant administrative areas (international) Lack of cooperation during planning, construction, and operation, and management phases, or other conflicts related to project, increases tensions in relations among relevant administrative areas (international) International BAR scale
GP7: Impacts on non-constituents Dam construction provides positive impacts (e.g. improved access to electricity, improved flood control, etc.) for individuals and communities outside the immediate area of the dam (other counties, municipalities, provinces, countries). Dam construction causes negative impacts (e.g. damage to fisheries, property, or livelihoods) for individuals and communities outside the immediate area of the dam (other counties, municipalities, provinces, countries) Index of spatial extent and magnitude of impacts based on analysis of reports from media, hydropower companies, government, and non-governmental sources.