The CMS Family and BirdLife International joined forces at the Second Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to raise awareness of guidelines devised to ensure that renewable energy installations are deployed in ways that have no adverse impact on migratory species such as birds and bats.

The programme of side events at UNEA included a presentation organized by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, AEWA and EUROBATS in conjunction with BirdLife International, on “Reconciling the Deployment of Energy Technologies with Migratory Species”.

“Renewable energy is an essential part of the strategy for the transition from traditional fuels, but appropriate planning, deployment and operation of renewable energy infrastructure are necessary if adverse effects on wildlife are to be avoided”, said Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of CMS. Patricia Zurita, the CEO of BirdLife International said “It is of crucial importance that renewable energy is developed and deployed in a sustainable manner in order to attain the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.”

CMS Parties have also established an international task force on energy, bringing together conservationists, governments, investors and power companies with the aim of implementing the guidelines and building partnerships.

BirdLife International considers the Energy Task Force as a pioneering initiative that will promote the guidelines in order to integrate environmental considerations in planning, assessment and mitigation measures, minimizing the risk to migratory species.

The “Green Room Event” which took place on Wednesday, 25 May, was attended by the Executive Secretaries of CMS (Bradnee Chambers) and AEWA (Jacques Trouvilliez) and BirdLife International’s CEO, Patricia Zurita.

For more information please contact veronika.lenarz@cms.int