A new report argues that a transition focused on wind and solar can result in significantly reduced environmental impacts compared to other renewable energy types, although other renewables can be the most appropriate solution depending upon the local circumstances.
The rapid transition to renewable energy offers opportunities to reset the broken relationship between energy production and nature, according to a new report by the Coalition Linking Energy And Nature for action (CLEANaction).
In its first major report, CLEANaction confirms that even when the full range of environmental impacts—from sourcing raw materials to final operation—is considered, generating and storing energy from renewables is far less environmentally damaging than using fossil fuels.
To limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels and avoid the worst risks of climate change, renewable energy will need to account for more than 90% of electricity generation by 2050 according to International Energy Agency projections. The report explains how, in a vital decade for action, the potential for negative impacts from the energy transition can be carefully managed to ensure that renewable energy technologies causing the least damage to nature are prioritised.
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WWF global energy lead Dean Cooper said, “Climate change is causing havoc across the globe and, together with habitat loss and overexploitation, is a leading cause of reduced biodiversity worldwide. This loss of biodiversity, and of the natural carbon uptake and storage enabled by healthy ecosystems, exacerbates the climate crisis and threatens the health and wellbeing of humankind around the world. We all must urgently shift to 100% renewable energy, but we must take care to protect and enhance nature at the same time.”
CLEANaction is calling on renewable energy investors and developers to:
- Integrate biodiversity, social and environmental risks early into renewable energy planning and investment decisions.
- Apply effective biodiversity safeguards and environmental impact assessment procedures to avoid and minimise impacts, and offset any residual impacts to achieve net-positive outcomes.
- Ensure there is traceability of raw materials and account for supply chain impacts within corporate commitments to nature.
- Apply a circular approach to minimise the use of primary materials and maximise the reuse and recycling of materials.
- Strengthen corporate disclosure and reporting on biodiversity, environmental and social impacts.
The full report is available here.
