Hydropower is the oldest form of clean electricity, with significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than most other energy sources. 

In comparison with burning coal, hydropower avoids up to four billion tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions being emitted annually.

Hydropower also supports the rapid growth of solar and wind power, thanks to the flexibility and storage it offers power grids that are increasingly reliant on variable power supply.

Beyond its power benefits, hydropower also provides water services. Reservoir storage capacity can be used for drinking water supply, irrigation and flood control. Increasing global water storage capacity is imperative to adapting to a warmer world and meeting growing water demand, since dams can store and release water to combat the ever-growing frequency of droughts and flooding.

Like other types of infrastructure, hydropower is however starting to experience negative impacts due to climate change. Water availability and hydropower generation are affected by changes in hydrological patterns and extreme weather events.