These two blackouts are generally believed to be related to the dry climate, which reduced the hydropower generation and increased the electricity demand for irrigation.
Farming and hydropower generation downstream of the Himalayan peaks is likely to be greatly affected.
Conversely, studies commissioned by WWF had argued that the park could support up to 45,000 people if "peaceful" industries like hydropower generation, fishing and ecotourism were developed.
That led to a surge in demand, just as hydropower generation (which produces 80% of Brazil's electricity) was struggling with the worst drought in 40 years.
Most large plants serve multiple purposes: hydropower generation, flood control, storage of drinking water, and the impounding of water for irrigation.
Yushu is home to the headwaters of three of Asia's greatest rivers, the Yangtze, Mekong and Yellow, all of which are used for hydropower generation.
According to a World Bank study (pdf), climate change will likely increase the frequency of both flooding and droughts in Ethiopia, posing a significant challenge to agriculture, infrastructure, and hydropower generation.
The drought, affecting Brazil's southeast and central regions, has prompted rationing in 19 cities, undermined hydropower generation, pushed up greenhouse gas emissions and led to squabbles between states vying for dwindling water resources.
The dam's head of hydropower generation, Kwesi Amoako, who retired last year, told me that he is proud of the structure, which created the world's largest man-made lake.
Mr. Foster's proposal is breathtaking in scale: A four-runway airport, to be built on reclaimed marshland, connected to London by high-speed rail, whose access tunnel would double as a flood protection barrier and hydropower generation plant.
Although all three countries are party to water-sharing arrangements, Turkey's plans to expand hydropower generation and its area of irrigation are being fulfilled partly at the expense of its two downstream neighbours.
