Translation: Expansion of renewables not at the expense of environmental and nature conservation: BUND against offshore proliferation and small hydropower

MIL OSI translation. Region: Germany/Germany –

Source: Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland On the occasion of the current legislative process for the accelerated expansion of renewable energies (EEG amendment and wind-on-sea law) and the hearing in the climate committee on Monday tomorrow, the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND) on the federal government to treat nature and species protection on an equal footing with energy production. Both the extensive offshore expansion measures for wind energy and possible loopholes for the continued operation and promotion of small hydroelectric power plants do more harm than good to climate protection." inside hand. However, nature conservation must not get under the wheels at this pace," explains Olaf Bandt, Chairman of the BUND. "Too much offshore wind energy goes hand in hand with the loss of biological diversity in the sea and is radically changing the North Sea. Worlds of sand, reef and mud, which are unique in the world, would become a concrete and steel field. This cannot be a solution for the future. Healthy seas are an essential building block for slowing down the climate crisis!” The traffic light government must therefore reconcile the expansion of offshore wind energy to 75 gigawatts with the associated cable connections through the Wadden Sea with marine and coastal nature conservation. This is the only way to achieve European nature conservation goals such as Natura 2000, the EU Birds Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and to protect the Wadden Sea UNESCO natural heritage in the long term. The end of funding for new or modernized small hydroelectric power plants from 2023 planned by the traffic light government is good news for domestic waters from the BUND's point of view. However, the environmental association fears that the Bundestag and Bundesrat could overturn the gradual end of the small hydroelectric power plants in the next few weeks. “It's good that the draft law makes it clear: the 'small hydropower' with its low electricity production hardly contributes to climate protection, but has significant negative effects on the water. Hydropower must therefore be excluded from the priority of renewable energies as a matter of urgency,” says Bandt. More information: Background: The European Water Framework Directive requires the restoration of river continuity for microorganisms, fish and sediments, which will also be shown to the general public at World Fish Migration Day on May 21, 2022: According to the directive, water continuity must be achieved by 2027 be guaranteed throughout Europe. Fish, microorganisms and the material for their habitats must be able to move freely in the water. Built-up bodies of water must be restored to lifelines that are rich in species. A BUND fact sheet on small hydropower (PDF) Background paper on the consequences of offshore expansion on seas and coasts Marine protection, phone: 0421-7900-232, mobile: 0174/ 319 14 24, email: nadja.ziebarth(at)bund.net, Sascha Maier, BUND water expert, phone: 030-27586-532, mobile : 0170/ 571 96 89, e-mail: sascha.maier(at)bund.net, Magnus Wessel, BUND nature conservation expert, Tel.: 030-275-86-543, mobile: 0160 / 93721830, e-mail: magnus .wessel(at)bund.net and BUND press office: Sigrid Wolff | Daniel Jan | Clara Billen | Lara Dalbudak Tel. 030-27586-497 |-531 |-464 |-425 | Email: presse(at)bund.netFor an overview

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