Hydropower is currently the primary renewable energy source for Myanmar. However, hydropower projects can cause direct and indirect detrimental impacts on the livelihoods of populations. Social impacts of planned hydropower projects should therefore be assessed. In this paper, we report on the application of a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) for evaluating social and human rights impacts of hydropower construction, operation and maintenance, and transportation of materials. S-LCA is capable of assessing multiple social stressors and tracking different impact categories within potentially disturbed communities. Both direct and indirect interaction between stakeholders and social impacts at every stage of a project can be evaluated. An existing large-scale hydropower dam in the Ayeyarwady River, Shweli hydropower dam 1, is used in this paper as an example for analysis. Results indicate the magnitude and intensity of social and human right impacts caused by the Shweli hydropower dam 1 in Myanmar. The dam gives rise to a series of negative impacts while offering little to no tangible benefits to local people and society. Overall, the most commonly held view expressed by stakeholders was that the dam did not offer the promised social and economic benefits. The weakest social performance was observed in the governance and socio-economic repercussion categories. A number of important socio-economic impacts are identified, offering useful insights to energy, ecosystem services, and land use policy makers. The results offer opportunities to examine potential impacts of forthcoming hydropower projects in the region and create long-term socio-economic benefits.

中文翻译：

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缅甸大型水电项目的社会影响：Shweli水电大坝的社会生命周期评估1

水电目前是缅甸的主要可再生能源。然而，水电项目会对人们的生计造成直接和间接的不利影响。因此，应评估规划中的水电项目的社会影响。在本文中，我们报告了社会生命周期评估 (S-LCA) 在评估水电建设、运营和维护以及材料运输的社会和人权影响方面的应用。S-LCA 能够评估多个社会压力源并跟踪可能受到干扰的社区内的不同影响类别。在项目的每个阶段，利益相关者之间的直接和间接互动和社会影响都可以进行评估。伊洛瓦底江现有一座大型水电大坝，瑞丽水电大坝 1，本文以本文为例进行分析。结果表明缅甸瑞丽水电大坝 1 造成的社会和人权影响的程度和强度。大坝产生了一系列负面影响，同时对当地人民和社会几乎没有实质性好处。总的来说，利益相关者表达的最普遍的观点是大坝没有提供承诺的社会和经济效益。在治理和社会经济影响类别中观察到的社会绩效最弱。确定了许多重要的社会经济影响，为能源、生态系统服务和土地使用政策制定者提供了有用的见解。研究结果为研究该地区即将开展的水电项目的潜在影响提供了机会，并创造了长期的社会经济效益。