The rapidly increasing population puts tremendous stress on the production and use of energy, such as electricity, which was responsible for 60% of the climate change that has occurred on earth. To keep the temperature increase lower than 2°C from the pre-industrial period, we only have two years if we maintain our current standard of CO2 emission. Thus, it is of great exigence to find substitutional resources for energy or sustainable energy resources. Renewable energy resources can benefit the environment by displacing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fueled units that generate electricity. Research has shown that renewable energy significantly outweighs traditional energy in terms of sustainability. Thus, renewable energy should be widely adopted in developing
and developed countries to achieve the goals of being environmentally friendly. Among all those renewable energy sources, dams or hydroelectric power is an important and
choice for developing renewable energy. Hydroelectric power contributes one-fifth of the world’s power generation and provides the most electric supply in 55 countries, demonstrating its high potential and the significant benefit that humans can gain through building dams.
Among all the countries that utilize hydroelectric power, Turkey is especially dependent on dams. By 2010, there were 566 sites identified for development, 130 in operation, 31 under construction, and others being planned. Turkey’s production of power from dams reached 75000GW/year in 2010, which by 2020, was predicted to be 100000GW/year, approximately one-third of the total electricity generated in Turkey.
However, dam construction carries non-negligible risks and irreversible changes to the
environment. Flooding is already a big problem in many countries without the negative impacts from dams. For example, the US suffered more than $40 billion in loss in flood damage from 2006 to 2010 alone. Thus, water management is important in general. Dams can alter the natural flow regime, damaging the water quality and river ecosystem, diminishing fisheries, and exacerbating flood problems. Turkey is especially prone to these dam-related challenges, especially with its Ilisu Dam, which causes strong dissatisfaction in countries like Syria. In the heart of southeastern Turkey, the Ilisu Dam stands as a symbol of the delicate balance we must strike between human development and preserving our environment. The Ilisu Dam is an ambitious and long-awaited project by the Turkish government. With a height of 440 feet and a width of one mile, it is considered a prestigious mega-project. Having taken over 20 years to complete and costing approximately $2 billion, it is anticipated to generate electricity equivalent
to that of a small nuclear reactor. The dam is estimated to produce around 3,800 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, which would be sufficient to power approximately 1.3 million households.
The Ilisu Dam (Turkey) and the Mosul Dam (Iraq) are both located on the Tigris River, with the Mosul Dam situated downstream of the Ilisu Dam, meaning that the Ilisu Dam controls the water flow before it reaches the Mosul Dam. In 2018, the Iraqi government requested that the Ilisu reservoir be filled by the end of June to mitigate the potential impact of high water levels during the spring season in the Tigris River. Springtime often brings increased rainfall and melting snow, resulting in higher water levels and a faster river flow, which could lead to flooding or other disruptions. However, the decision to postpone the reservoir's filling had unintended consequences. Water shortages occurred in the Mosul Dam. The regulated release of water from the Ilisu Dam supports various needs such as agriculture, drinking water, and hydroelectric power generation. However, with the postponement of the reservoir filling, the controlled flow was reduced, leading to decreased water availability in the Mosul Dam. As a result, the water levels in
the Mosul Dam significantly decreased. This decrease in water availability affected the
communities, agriculture, and other activities that rely on the water stored in the Mosul Dam.
The impact of these water shortages in 2018 was severe, particularly in the southern
governorates of Iraq. The river's water share plummeted from 21 billion cubic meters to only 9.7 billion cubic meters. This reduction in water availability had detrimental effects on the Mesopotamian Marshes, an ecologically vital area. The marshes play a crucial role in coastal health by acting as natural filters for pollutants and waste. Additionally, they serve as important spawning and nursery sites for coastal fish and shrimp species. The impact of the Ilisu Dam on water availability had significant consequences for crop production, primarily wheat and barley, which are the major source of income for 75% of farmers in Iraq. In the winter season of 2018 due to water shortages, wheat production experienced a 27% decrease compared to 2017, with just over two million tons estimated. Iraq’s farmlands declined too due to lack of rainfall and depleted soils.The cultivated land area for wheat decreased by 25%. A similar picture rolled out for barley
production, marking a stark picture for farmers in Iraq.
Water sources are important for bird migration as they serve as vital lifelines for avian
populations. The alteration of natural river flows by dams poses a significant threat to these migratory birds and their habitats, including the river and riparian zones, shrublands, steppes, and steep rocky mountains. Notably, around 33% of the breeding species relied on rocky slopes and cliffs for nesting, while 11% utilized riverine formations. However, this ecosystem's remarkable biodiversity is threatened due to this controversial dam project. The water behind the Ilisu Dam transformed nearly 90 miles of the Tigris and another 150 miles of its tributaries into a vast reservoir, submerging nearly 200 villages, including Hasankeyf, an ancient town in southeastern Turkey. Hasankeyf served as a crucial breeding and stopover habitat for over 150 native and migratory birds. The golden eagle, an endangered bird species, nests in the steep rock face near Hasankeyf in the Tigris Valley. Only three reproducing couples of this eagle species are known in the Southeast Anatolia region. However, the construction of the Ilisu Dam threatens these nesting
sites and could lead to further endangerment of the golden eagle population.
In 2009, an agreement known as the "Agreement on the Utilization of the Waters of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers" was signed between Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. This agreement aimed to promote cooperation and sustainable management of the shared water resources. However, the construction of the Ilisu Dam has reignited tensions andprompted further negotiations. The lack of regional consensus on water sharing and Iraq’s lack of leverage enabled Turkey to complete the dam.
In conclusion, the Ilisu Dam crisis demonstrated a failure of collective cooperation among
participating countries competing for hydropower and water resources. Such international conflict highlights the lack of and, hence, the importance of collective planning and cooperation with mutual respect. Careful planning and construction restrictions must be discussed among as many participating political entities as possible to ensure that the transition to renewables does not burden certain parties overwhelmingly or with negligence on the other equally important environmental factors
