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Three Gorges Dam Essay

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Traditionally, environmental management has been considered in the light of knowing the best technological solution. A significant case study representing a technological solution to environmental management is the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on the Yangtze River in China. The dam has two principal management purposes. These are; to provide energy sourced by more renewable means than coal burning alternatives, to meet rising demands, as well as reduce flooding of the Yangtze River. Following a deeper introduction of the TGD case study, four primary perspectives will be used to assess the environmental management outcomes and approaches. First the social implications and any gains of the project, including the issues of social injustice and lack …show more content…

The environmental management aims of the dam were to reduce flooding of the river, as well as shifting the nation from heavy coal-dependency to more renewably sourced energy to meet expanding requirements in China. Thus maintaining to expand the energy industry and output for use in a growing society, whilst considering the finite limit and emission impacts of coal and other fossil fuels. To meet these goals, the TGD was constructed to become the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. The Yangtze River on which it built is the world’s third largest river; being the largest in China (Cai et al., 2013). The Yangtze River Basin (including tributaries) involves 20% of the area of China; resultantly being large enough to heavily impact surrounding ecosystems, the water cycle and energy balance (Li et al., 2011). Construction of the dam commenced in 1993 and ended in 2009, with the final construction having a storage capacity of 3.93x1010m3 (Zhou et al., 2014). Partial operation of the dam commenced from 2003 and full operation from 2009 (Cai et al., 2013). Studies have been comprehensively conducted to argue that this technological solution has not led to good management of the environment; as evidenced from both social and environmental impacts, as well as investigations into the overweighing benefits people management would have had.
From a societal perspective, the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) project has ultimately

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