China’s Mega Dams and Climate Crisis: A Balancing Act Between Power and Sustainability

Sanju Suresh

In the past few decades, China has been at the forefront of both global climate challenges and large-scale infrastructure projects. These twin realities are exemplified by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as torrential rains, floods, and heatwaves, coupled with the construction of ambitious hydropower dams like the Three Gorges Dam. While China’s pursuit of renewable energy and flood control is laudable, these projects come with significant social, environmental, and even planetary consequences.

The Escalating Impact of Extreme Weather

The summer of 2023 was a stark reminder of China’s vulnerability to climate change. In June, temperatures in central China soared, intensifying already unstable weather conditions. Henan Province, a region home to millions of farmers, bore the brunt of these weather extremes. The area experienced record-breaking rainfall, with Nanyang City receiving 600 mm of rain in a single 24-hour period. This triggered massive floods, displacing over a million people and damaging infrastructure on an unprecedented scale.

This is not an isolated incident. China's recent history is marked by increasingly severe weather events—what scientists are calling the "new normal" due to the impacts of global climate change. Torrential rains have become a frequent occurrence, pushing the limits of China's flood management infrastructure. One of the most tragic consequences of this was the collapse of a bridge in Shanxi Province, which claimed at least 15 lives. This incident, along with others, has underscored the inadequacies in China’s infrastructure in coping with climate-driven disasters.

Infrastructure Under Pressure: The Role of Mega Dams

China’s most iconic and ambitious infrastructure project—the Three Gorges Dam—was designed to control floods, generate hydropower, and provide water storage. However, its effectiveness has been questioned in recent years, especially in light of extreme weather patterns that have pushed the dam's limits. The dam has played a central role in flood control along the Yangtze River, but during severe rain events, its capacity to manage water levels has been strained.

The Three Gorges Dam, completed in 2012, was expected to tame the seasonal floods of the Yangtze River and support China’s growing energy demands. Yet, the sheer size of the dam has led to environmental and geological concerns, including landslides, sediment buildup, and biodiversity loss. In 2020, severe rainfall overwhelmed the dam, causing downstream flooding that damaged homes, crops, and infrastructure.

Moreover, according to NASA experts, the dam's immense size and the weight of the water it holds have caused a subtle shift in Earth's rotation. The reservoir holds approximately 39 trillion kilograms of water, which has altered the planet's moment of inertia, slowing the Earth's rotation slightly and increasing daylight hours by 0.06 milliseconds. While this change may seem minuscule, it underscores the profound impact that large-scale engineering projects can have on the natural world, even at a planetary level.

Economic and Social Costs: Communities Under Siege

While the primary goal of the Three Gorges Dam and other mega-dams has been flood control and renewable energy, their social and economic impacts have been significant. During the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, over a million people were displaced, with entire towns submerged beneath the rising waters of the Yangtze River. This massive relocation effort has had long-term implications, as many displaced communities continue to struggle with inadequate compensation, loss of livelihoods, and cultural dislocation.

The economic toll of extreme weather events, particularly floods, has also been staggering. In Hunan’s Yuyang City, a dike burst caused extensive flooding, leading to the evacuation of 7,000 people. Farmers like Wu Yifeng and Kai Bao Yong in nearby provinces faced devastating crop losses, as floodwaters destroyed their fields, seeds, and produce. For many, the harvest season has been written off, and the long-term effects on the agricultural economy are dire.

Small business owners in regions like Hunan and Jiangxi have also suffered, with shops and warehouses submerged. In an already fragile economy, such losses not only affect individual livelihoods but also ripple through supply chains, impacting the broader economy.

Yet, in the face of these hardships, the resilience of local communities has been a beacon of hope. In Pingjiang County, for example, local hero Yu Ziyuan used a paddleboard to rescue over 50 residents trapped by floodwaters. His actions highlight the strength and solidarity of people faced with disaster. Such efforts, while admirable, cannot replace the systemic changes needed to address both climate change and the vulnerabilities of China’s infrastructure.

The Three Gorges Dam: Power, Control, and Controversy

The Three Gorges Dam is an engineering marvel. Spanning over 2.3 kilometers and containing 32 generators, it is one of the most powerful hydroelectric projects in the world. Beyond power generation, the dam was designed to mitigate seasonal flooding that had plagued the Yangtze River basin for centuries. However, while it has had success in generating clean energy, the dam has also caused significant ecological and human costs.

One of the most alarming effects of the dam has been its role in triggering landslides along the banks of the Yangtze. The reservoir's rising waters have destabilized slopes, leading to periodic landslides that threaten nearby communities. Additionally, sediment that used to flow downstream is now trapped by the dam, altering ecosystems and diminishing the fertility of farmland along the river.

Internationally, the dam has attracted criticism for its environmental impacts and the displacement of over a million people. This has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of such mega-dams, particularly as China continues to invest heavily in hydropower as part of its renewable energy strategy.

The Liang Keku Dam: A New Chapter in China’s Energy Ambitions

China’s latest hydropower endeavor, the Liang Keku Dam, located at 3,000 meters above sea level, highlights the ongoing tension between the country's renewable energy goals and its social impacts. Authorities hope this dam will help China meet its climate targets, including carbon neutrality by 2060. However, like the Three Gorges Dam, the Liang Keku Dam has displaced communities—this time, ethnically Tibetan ones who rely on the land for their livelihood and cultural practices.

This project, while part of China’s effort to reduce coal consumption and expand renewable energy, continues to spark debate about the balance between infrastructure development and the protection of human and environmental rights.

The Path Forward: Sustainable Solutions for China’s Future

As China navigates its dual challenges of extreme weather and large-scale infrastructure projects, the need for more sustainable solutions is urgent. The reliance on mega-dams like the Three Gorges Dam and the Liang Keku Dam has brought clean energy and flood control benefits, but it has also created significant environmental and social trade-offs.

China, as the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, must take a leadership role in addressing both climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. This includes not only improving disaster response and flood management but also reevaluating the long-term sustainability of projects like the Three Gorges Dam. With President Xi Jinping pledging to improve disaster monitoring and prevention, there is hope that future infrastructure projects will be built with a more comprehensive understanding of their environmental and social impacts.

The challenges posed by climate change are immense, but with innovative strategies and sustainable planning, China can pave the way for a future that balances economic growth with environmental preservation and social equity.