Hangzhou Declaration of the 10th Hydropower for Today Forum
May 2024
From May 22 to 23, 2024, the 10th Hydropower for Today Forum (hereinafter referred to as "the Forum") was held in Hangzhou, China. With the theme of "Green Hydropower Promotes Sustainable Development in Rural Areas", the Forum reaffirmed the irreplaceable role of small hydropower as a clean and renewable energy source in promoting economic growth, improving people's livelihoods and protecting the environment. It is necessary to follow the concept of green development and scientifically and reasonably develop small hydropower to support rural sustainable development. The Forum inspired extensive exchanges and in-depth discussions on three main topics: value realization of hydropower ecological products and investment & financing, new technologies and applications of small hydropower, and standards supporting rural sustainable development.
At the forum we concluded that:
Hydropower, as a clean and renewable energy source, plays a significant role in reducing emissions towards carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and is crucial for global energy transformation and combating climate change. It is necessary to promote the sustainable development of the hydropower industry.
43% of the global population resides in rural areas, where sustained prosperity relies heavily on a sustainable, stable, clean, and affordable energy supply. Green hydropower contributes to the sustainable development of rural areas.
China has rich experience in small hydropower. By strengthening international cooperation and exchanges, we can share experiences and technologies of China’s hydropower development and foster the joint progress of the global hydropower industry.
Call for action:
Continue to strengthen international exchanges. Governments, relevant international organizations, enterprises and society should continue to strengthen cooperation, learn from each other's successful experience in the development of hydropower in terms of ecological and environmental protection, and conduct scientific planning, and develop reasonably small hydropower. Partnerships should be strengthened to foster collaboration mechanisms, cultivate more talents, and contribute persistently to green development of hydropower and rural sustainable development.
Innovate hydropower development and management models. While giving full play to the role of hydropower in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change, hydropower technologies also need to adapt to climate change. Research will be conducted on the green environmental benefits and ecological value transformation of small hydropower, aiming to promote the creation of fair and reasonable global climate public goods, innovate investment and financing models, and drive the development of green hydropower.
Vigorously promote advanced technologies. Efforts will be made to promote technological innovation, strengthen the water-solar-wind complementarity, and improve the applicability of renewable energy technologies. Countries with rich experience in small hydropower should promptly summarize and promote relevant policies and technologies, participate more actively in ISO/TC339, and develop and promote the application of small hydropower standards that are suitable for the actual situation of developing countries.
Strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation. There are still 650 million people worldwide without access to electricity, mainly in the global South. International exchanges of hydropower and the flow of public funds should be effectively promoted, and financial assistance, technical assistance and capacity building should be provided to promote rural green energy transformation and sustainable development, so that more people without electricity can use affordable and clean energy.
