Imagine a world where the RSPB and its BirdLife International partners never had to oppose renewable energy developments. Wind farms would always be sited in places which caused no harm to wildlife, destructive concrete barrages would be confined to history and any bioenergy we use led to real carbon savings and did not destroy natural habitats around the world.
For beleaguered Conservation Officers in the BirdLife partnership, this might feel a bit of a pipe dream. But, dreams do (occasionally) come true.
So what would it take for renewable energy development to proceed in harmony with nature? This is the question a new BirdLife International report seeks to address.
Our starting point is that climate change remains the greatest threat we face. Defra Chief Scientist, Professor Bob Watson, earlier this month warned that our inability to wean ourselves off fossil fuels means that the temperature of the planet is set to rise between 3 and 5 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels. If Bob’s prediction comes true, the latest science suggests that 30-50% of the world’s species would be committed to extinction.
As I have blogged before, this is not a reality that I am prepared to face. Notwithstanding the pessimism about the ability of political leaders to reach a global deal to tackle climate change, the ambition to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 remains the goal. That means 80% reductions by developed nations by 2050 and 40% reductions by 2020. This is why we need a revolution in the way that we generate and use energy: a massive reduction in the amount of energy we use and lots of renewable energy.
Our new study, Meeting Europe’s Renewable Energy Targets in Harmony with Nature, paints a positive picture of the role renewable energy is set to play in the fight against climate change. But it also warns of the risks that some renewable energy technologies can pose to wildlife. It offers advice for planners in countries across the EU on how to site renewable energy technologies, such as wind farms, so that they do not harm sensitive species.
European countries have vowed to source 20% of all their energy needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade. The report reveals that over 80% of this new renewable energy will come from low risk technologies like solar panels and medium risk technologies such as wind and wave power. However the remainder will come from high risk sources – mainly biofuel.
When we put out a similar report in the UK in 2009, we received a lot of flak. Some members even resigned as a result. But we will not come back to climate change without renewable energy. And we will not stop opposing bad renewable energy developments. This is why we will continue to call on decision makers to provide the right framework for delivering renewable energy at the right scale and pace necessary to tackle climate change. Over the last six years the RSPB has been involved in over 1500 wind farm cases maintaining objections to 83 (6%). I would love it if we and our Bird Life partners did not have to lodge objections to any renewable energy developments. The planning authorities and renewable energy companies across Europe have to play their part as well. Maybe if they read the recommendations in this report they will. What do you think it would take for all renewable energy projects to proceed in harmony with nature? It would be great to hear your views.
When we put out a similar report in the UK in 2009, we received a lot of flak. Some members even resigned as a result. But we will not come back to climate change without renewable energy. And we will not stop opposing bad renewable energy developments. This is why we will continue to call on decision makers to provide the right framework for delivering renewable energy at the right scale and pace necessary to tackle climate change.
Over the last six years the RSPB has been involved in over 1500 wind farm cases maintaining objections to 83 (6%). I would love it if we and our Bird Life partners did not have to lodge objections to any renewable energy developments. The planning authorities and renewable energy companies across Europe have to play their part as well. Maybe if they read the recommendations in this report they will.
What do you think it would take for all renewable energy projects to proceed in harmony with nature? It would be great to hear your views.