Biodiversity and Energy Partners in Sustainable Development

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Biodiversity is the source of many forms of

energy, and is frequently adversely affected

by its use.

For thousands of years, biomass energy and

in particular wood were the primary sources of

energy for cooking and heating. More recently,

societies have mobilized wind energy and fossil

fuels, and learned to harness the power of

water, the sun and even atoms. The result is a

highly complex system of energy supply upon

which economic development depends.

The International Energy Agency predicts a

50% growth in demand for energy by 2030

with 80% of that demand to be met by fossil

fuels. Energy-related CO2 emissions are

expected to climb by 52% in 2030 (IEA, 2005).

The World Energy Council has produced

several scenarios and most of these predict

a considerable expansion in biomass energy,

especially between 2050 and 2100 (WEC,

2001). Each of these possible futures has

significant potential and likely repercussions on

biodiversity, the ecosystem services it supports,

and subsequent impacts on human well being.

The rapid increase of human energy use

has had a profound influence on biodiversity

(Guruswamy et al., 1998; Wilson, 2002). The

impacts, both direct and indirect result from:

1. the production and distribution of energy

2. the use of energy

Impacts are not evenly distributed between the

two: for example, surveys show that the vast

majority of carbon emissions from diesel and

gasoline are caused by the end use of products,

with a small fraction coming from production

and distribution operations (EC, 2004).

Energy’s Impact on Biodiversity

Energy and BiodiversityBiodiversity is a central issue to consider in the production, distribution and consumption of energy – now and in the future. This brochure provides a general overview of the inter-relationships between biodiversity and energyand raises some key issues and questions which should be addressed in futureenergy discussions and decisions.

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The ecological footprint of the energy sector

with respect to exploration, extraction and

infrastructure development is significant.

Exploration for hydrocarbons, pipeline

construction, uranium mining, hydroelectric

dam construction, fuelwood extraction and

increasingly biofuel plantations can all lead

to significant habitat degradation, both on land

and at sea.

Further, impacts are both local and global in

scale.

Pollution and acid rain from burning fossil fuels

have been and continue to be a problem for

forests. Nuclear power results in waste disposal

problems, as do solar cells which can leak

hazardous waste into natural systems.

Hydropower results in ecosystem changes both

upstream and downstream, while wind farms

have local effects including desiccation and

interruption of migration patterns for both

terrestrial and marine species. Desertification in

the Sahel and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa

has been linked to demand for biomass fuel

(Goldemberg and Johansson, 2004).

Indirectly, energy use can cause overexploitation

of natural resources and greatly facilitate the

spread of invasive alien species through global

trade.

These impacts however pale in comparison

to the potential blow of climate change.

Recent studies report that many species and

ecosystems are at risk, and in some cases – for

instance amphibians and coral reefs –

irretrievable losses have already occurred

(Ron et al., 2003; Burrowes et al., 2004). Groups

of species that are likely to be particularly

damaged by climate change include: those

that already are rare or threatened; migratory

species; polar communities; peripheral

populations; genetically impoverished species;

and specialized species including alpine and

island endemics.

An overview of the impacts of different energy

sources on biodiversity is provided in Table 1.

Energy production, distribution and use can

have both positive and negative impacts on

biodiversity and specific impacts will depend

on the type and intensity of energy as well as

the ecosystem involved. However, to date, the

negative impacts are better known and the

positive impacts dependent on responsible

approaches to energy – such as implementing

biodiversity offsets, locating energy production

in areas of least harm to ecosystems, etc. New

and emerging technologies (e.g. ‘clean coal’)

and alternative energy sources (wind, solar,

geothermal, etc.) can all play a role in reducing

the impact of energy, particularly by reducing

greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy’s Impact on Biodiversity

Energy’s Impact on Biodiversity

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FOSSIL FUELS Oil – 31.4% of globalenergy useCoal – 24.4% of globalenergy useNatural gas – 21.2% ofglobal energy use

Production of greenhouse gases resulting in climate change and associatedextreme events

Air pollution (including acid rain)

Oil spills in aquatic and marine ecosystems

Potential use of carbon and biodiversity offsets and other voluntary contributionsto compensate for adverse impacts

BIOMASSCombustibles, renewables& waste – 10.8% of globalenergy use

Land degradation from unsustainable fuel wood extraction

Land conversion to produce biomass crops such as sugarcane or fast-growingtrees

Chemical pollutants in the atmosphere

Removal of essential soil nutrients, reducing soil organic matter and water-holdingcapacity of the soil through burning crop remnants

Additional inputs of fossil fuel for machinery, fertilizers and pesticides which degradeecosystems

Possible increased soil erosion and water runoff

Carbon emissions resulting from burning cow dung, etc.

HYDROELECTRICITY~2.2% of global energy use

Loss of forests, wildlife habitat and species populations

Emission of greenhouse gases from reservoirs due to the rotting of vegetationand carbon inflows from the basin

Disruption of natural river flows to and through ecosystems

Artificial reservoirs can provide productive ecosystems with fish and waterfowlhabitat opportunities

NUCLEAR ENERGY ~ 6.5 % of global energy use

Small amounts of greenhouse gases and other construction impacts

Water used to cool reactors is released into the environment at temperaturessignificantly above ambient levels

Because of the potential risks posed by nuclear energy, some nuclear plantsare surrounded by protected areas

ALTERNATIVE ENERGYSOURCES

WIND

SOLAR

TIDAL

GEOTHERMAL

Ecosystem disruption in terms of desiccation, habitat loss at large wind farm sites,undersea noise pollution

Wind power rotors can cause some mortality for migratory terrestrial and marinespecies

Use of toxic chemicals in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells presents a problemboth during use and disposal

Tidal power plants may disrupt migratory patterns of fish, reduce feeding areasfor waterfowl, disrupt flows of suspended sediments, and result in various otherchanges at the ecosystem level

Wastewater from geothermal plants may cause significant pollution of surfaceand ground water supplies

Structures at sea can provide habitat and breeding ground for fish and molluscs

ENERGY SOURCE RELATIONSHIP TO BIODIVERSITY

Note: This table is not, nor should it be taken to be, comprehensive in its overview of the complex relationships between energy productionand biodiversity. Additionally, there has been no attempt in this overview to weigh different relationships (positive and negative) betweenbiodiversity and energy. Energy use statistics of 2003 from the publication IEA, 2005b.

Table 1 Energy sources and examples of how they relate to biodiversity

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The 2004 World Energy Assessment highlighted

the direct correlation between a country’s

development and per capita energy use. It also

showed wide disparity between regions in the

mix of energy types in use (Goldemberg and

Johannsen, 2004).

Current energy consumption patterns are

neither efficient nor equitable. According to

UNDP “about 1.6 billion people have no access

to electricity and 2 billion still rely on traditional

biomass fuels… to meet their heating and

cooking needs” (UNDP, 2005). This situation

should change as the global community moves

towards implementing the Millennium

Development Goals. But the negative impacts

on biodiversity from energy production,

distribution and consumption patterns are

exacerbated by market and policy failures,

such as subsidies, undervaluation of resources,

failure to internalize environmental externalities

in prices, and failure to appreciate global values

at local levels and vice versa. Actions to address

climate change are also putting pressure

on biodiversity. For example, some carbon

sequestration programmes have led to large-

scale planting of monocultures, at the expense

of more diverse landscapes.

Given that energy is a fundamental requirement

for development and that energy consumption

will only increase in future, several questions

jump to the fore:

1. How can we reduce the negative impacts of

energy on biodiversity?

2. How can we identify and manage the

trade-offs between energy and biodiversity?

3. How can we take advantage of the

opportunity created by new energy

technologies and demand to support

ecosystem services?

Energy for the Future

Energy’s Impact on Biodiversity

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Energy’s Impact on Biodiversity

IUCN is working to understand and make

understandable the biodiversity implications

of our likely energy future(s). Key elements

which we view as critical to maintaining

biodiversity and vital ecosystem services

while ensuring equitable access to adequate

energy supplies include:

taking a landscape-scale approach to

managing biodiversity and natural resources

and to planning development of energy-

related infrastructures;

promoting sound governance at local, national

and international levels by, for instance,

requiring biodiversity issues to be considered

in energy planning and decision-making

processes and developing appropriate market

based mechanisms; and

engaging the private sector in efforts to

achieve positive change.

IUCN contributes to and encourages the careful

consideration of the inter-relationships between

biodiversity and energy, so that these are an

integral element of discussions and decisions

on energy in appropriate fora.

Going Forward

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Energy’s Impact on Biodiversity

References

Burrowes, P. A., R. L. Joglar, D. E. Green, Herpetologica 60, 141 (2004).

Dolman, S. J., M. P. Simmonds and S. Keith. 2002. Marine wind farms and cetaceans. International Whaling Commission IWC/SC/55/E4.

European Commission (EC). 2004. Well-to-Wheels analysis of futureautomotive fuels and powertrains in the European context.http://ies.jrc.cec.eu.int/Download/eh

Goldemberg, J. and T. B. Johansson. 2004. World Energy Assessment:overview 2004 update. UNDP.

Guruswamy, Lakshman D. and J. A. McNeely (eds.). 1998. Protection ofGlobal Biodiversity: Converging Strategies. Duke University Press, Durhamand London.

International Energy Agency (IEA). 2005a. World Energy Outlook 2005.

International Energy Agency (IEA). 2005b. Key World Energy Statistics.http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2005/key2005.pdf?bcsi_scan_EC783A0C3C997A81=0&bcsi_scan_filename=key2005.pdf

Pimentel, D. et al. 1994. Renewable energy: economics and environmentalissues. BioScience 44: 536-547.

Ron, S. R., W. E. Duellman, L. A. Coloma, M. R. Bustamante, J. Herpetol.37, 116 (2003).

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2005. The SustainableDifference: Energy and Environment to Achieve the MDGs.www.undp.org/energyandenvironment/sustainabledifference.

Wilson, E. O. 2002. The Future of Life. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

World Energy Council (WEC). 2005. Global energy scenarios to 2050 and beyond. http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/edc/scenario.asp

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