Meeting Europe's renewable energy targets in harmony with - RSPB

PREFACE
Dear Reader,
A few years ago my attention was drawn to a
powerful advertisement – part of a branding
campaign launched by a big global bank. It was
based on the observation that having different
points of view can be a strength rather than a
problem. Pictures of the same object were displayed
next to each other, but with different accompanying
text, reflecting different views and values.
A sports car, for example, could be viewed as
“freedom” or a “status symbol” or even a
“polluter”. The bank was conveying the message
that it understood and was able to encompass
the different values of its customers, and therefore
could offer solutions to a variety of clients all over
the world.
When we look at renewable energy sources and
technologies, we are facing a similar situation. For
some they are an exciting business and development
opportunity. For others, they are the main solution
to cutting emissions and avoiding disastrous climate
change. Renewable energy sources are often
assumed to be less damaging for biodiversity than
fossil energy sources, yet they are not always seen
as “green”.
Are all viewpoints valid? Yes, the more you look at
renewable energy sources and technologies, the
more you come to recognise that people are right
in perceiving them differently. Is it possible to
reconcile these viewpoints, making renewables a
good business opportunity, as well as a good way
to cut emissions and avoid further biodiversity
loss? Yes, it is. Through this report, which is the
result of the work of 17 leading bird and wildlife
conservation organisations across Europe, we
show that strategic planning, environmental
assessment and stakeholder engagement are key
elements of the solution.
We cannot afford to miss the EU’s 2020 targets
for energy efficiency, reducing CO 2 emissions
and increasing the share of renewables in the
energy mix. Indeed, BirdLife Europe supports
increasing the emissions target from 20% to 30%.
At the same time, we cannot afford to miss
another important EU 2020 target, that of
“halting the loss of biodiversity and degradation
of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and
restoring them as far as feasible, while stepping
up the EU contribution to averting global
biodiversity loss”. These climate and biodiversity
targets are strongly interrelated and
interconnected. We cannot achieve one aim
without or at the expense of the other. What we
need is to adopt holistic approaches and
solutions encompassing both.
This report shows how policy makers can help
make it possible to meet Europe’s renewable
energy targets in harmony with nature. Like the
bank adverts, we see no problem in different
points of view, only potential. And in order to
deploy the full potential of renewables we need
the wisdom, the long-term vision and the positive
planning that you can find in the following pages.
Yours faithfully,
Angelo Caserta
(Regional Director, BirdLife Europe)