Research Publications

Michigan Sustainability Cases (MSC) is an initiative of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability producing case studies for sustainability education that presents its cases on an inclusive open‐access learning platform called Gala. Each case tells the story of a controversial real‐life issue with a challenging decision to be made, accompanied by audiovisual resources and an engaged learning exercise. Learners analyze the case by considering the interactions between the decision maker and main stakeholders. This case explores the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, the Three Gorges Dam.

Hydroelectric power is renewable, clean, and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Building a hydroelectric dam, however, is a massive political and economic undertaking, with substantial consequences for both upstream and downstream communities and ecosystems.

The Three Gorges Dam, which opened in 2009, provides power to millions of people across China and has created countless jobs and development opportunities. Weighing these benefits against the dam's negative social and environmental impacts, this case explores: 1.) the unique legal and political context of dam building in China; 2.) the dam's geological externalities, including increased earthquake and drought risk; 3.) ecological damage, including the endangerment of many terrestrial and freshwater species; and 4.) the involuntary resettlement of millions of displaced people. These impacts were further complicated by the government's funding scheme, which relied on subsidies paid by the total population of households and companies in China, despite only a small portion of the population directly benefiting from the dam.

This case offers a retrospective examination of the Three Gorges Dam, with the intent of guiding decision making regarding a recent proposal in China to build similar dams on upstream portions of the Yangtze River. Students would be expected to learn about evaluating the clean‐energy benefit and socio‐environmental impacts with the Energy Justice Framework, which guides toward making a final decision on the new proposed dam.