Hydropower: The good, the bad and the ugly

Mark Everard examines the benefits and repercussions of harnessing water for power. People require energy for their daily needs and for development. In a climate-aware world, we know we need low-carbon energy. For decades, hydropower has been promoted as a strategic solution, and it is frequently a favoured resource where rivers are large and other energy-yielding resources are sparse. But is hydropower a panacea, or must we address wider considerations to pursue the goals of sustainability and meet universal human needs