Struggle in Green Energy Transition: Balancing Climate Change Reduction with Preservation of Species Diversity, September 17, 2025
In the quest to mitigate climate change, the challenge lies in balancing our efforts with the preservation of biodiversity. This was the focus of Rachel Asante-Owusu's intervention at the 8th Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife Impacts held in Montpellier, France on September 9.
Asante-Owusu, representing a website dedicated to this cause, advocated for a nature-positive deployment of renewable energy. She highlighted the need to minimise the ecological impact of renewable energy sources, such as solar farms and wind farms, while maximising their benefits for nature.
Solar farms, for instance, can displace semi-natural habitats crucial for reptiles, birds, and pollinators. Similarly, offshore wind construction generates underwater noise that displaces marine mammals and alters seafloor habitats. Onshore wind poses risks for raptors, migratory birds, and bats. Grid infrastructure, whether on land or sea, fragments ecosystems, from salt marshes to mangroves.
However, the story is not all doom and gloom. The website Asante-Owusu represents has proof-of-concept success stories such as pollinator-solar projects and offshore wind reefs. These initiatives demonstrate that it is possible to harmonise renewable energy development with conservation efforts.
The website's four-pillar approach includes strategic spatial planning, cumulative impact assessment, wildlife-sensitive design, and integration with Nature-based Solutions. This approach aims to ensure that renewable energy projects are located in areas with minimal ecological impact and are designed in a way that benefits local wildlife.
The website is part of the Global Initiative for Nature Grids and Renewables (GINGR), a partnership between the website and the Renewable Grids Initiative. GINGR's goal is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system while minimising biodiversity loss.
Ecowende, a joint venture aiming to build the most ecological wind farm yet, is another initiative that promotes collaboration across governments, industry, and civil society. Offshore wind is delivering exceptional capacity factors, making it a promising source of clean energy.
The International Energy Agency projects that renewable power must triple by 2030 to meet climate goals. With fossil fuels still accounting for about 40% of global CO2 emissions, the need for a rapid expansion of renewable energy is clear. However, this expansion creates ecological trade-offs that must be carefully managed.
In 2021, Ecowende was founded, and in 2024, 582 GW of new renewable energy capacity was added. The Renewables for Nature Coalition, a group bringing together stakeholders to develop industry guidance based on lessons learned, is another initiative working towards a sustainable future.
Solar PV costs have dropped 90% since 2010, making renewable energy more accessible and affordable. With initiatives like Ecowende, GINGR, and the Renewables for Nature Coalition, there is hope that renewable energy can be developed in a way that is both good for the planet and good for nature.
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