This briefing aims to shed light on the current intersection of renewable energy deployment and biodiversity protection within the EU’s renewable energy transition. While the EU must accelerate the deployment of renewables to deliver its climate objectives, this process needs to also uphold the highest environmental standards, and maximise synergies between renewable energy and biodiversity protection.
It presents successful case studies where renewable initiatives have been planned or implemented in harmony with nature in selected European countries. Building on these examples and CAN Europe’s existing work on renewable energy, the briefing concludes with targeted recommendations and forward-looking insights to support NGOs and policymakers in advancing a sustainable energy future in synergy with nature protection.
The ongoing climate crisis requires a rapid and sustained deployment of renewable energy at the core of the EU’s transition, primarily from wind and solar sources. The revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) sets a binding target of at least 42,5% share of renewables in the overall EU’s energy consumption mix, with an aspirational target of 45%. In 2024, renewable energy sources accounted for 47.5% of gross electricity consumption in the EU – with wind and solar among the main sources with a respective share of 38.0% and 23.4%.
At the same time, in response to the twin climate and biodiversity crises, and in light of the European Green Deal, the EU Commission has launched the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 in which it has committed to protect nature. Derived from this strategy, the EU has committed to biodiversity-related international agreements under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and also adopted the groundbreaking Nature Restoration Law (NRL), which includes an overarching restoration objective for the long-term recovery of nature in the EU’s land and sea areas.
Accelerating renewable deployment is crucial to tackling climate change, and it must go hand in hand with protecting biodiversity and supporting the wellbeing of local host communities. Biodiversity can be affected not only by the direct impacts of climate change, such as altered habitats and shifts in species distribution, but also by certain climate change mitigation measures if potential synergies with biodiversity conservation are not fully considered. Achieving a fast and nature-positive energy transition requires careful planning and governance. Spatial planning including early sensitivity mapping, strategic environmental assessment, and with strong public participation) is crucial to identify the suitable areas to deploy new renewables projects, and their related grids and infrastructure. CAN Europe, together with the Öko-Institut, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, EEB, The Nature Conservancy and WWF EPO, have elaborated actionable recommendations at EU and national levels built upon the implementation analysis of spatial planning and the designation of Renewables Acceleration Areas (RAAs) in selected EU countries – helping shape policies that balance climate urgency with ecological integrity.
This briefing presents concrete European examples where renewable energy projects have been developed in hand with nature protection, drawing lessons for policymakers and civil society on how to enable a fast, fair, and nature-positive energy transition.
Read the briefing in full here
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