Nature's Comeback: Why Clean Energy Is Biodiversity's Best Ally

Forbes

22-05-2025

Closeup picture of a african cheetah, running verry fast and throwing up dust. moment frozen in time
Over the last 60 years, Earth's biological diversity has experienced unprecedented decline. According to the WWF's Living Planet Report 2022, global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish declined by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2020. Freshwater species were hit hardest, with an 85% average population drop according to the report. This loss of biodiversity threatens not only ecosystems but also food systems, water resources, and global health. May 22nd is celebrated as Biological Diversity Day and this year's theme is 'Harmony with nature and sustainable development".
You may be wondering, what are the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, overexploitation and significantly, climate change fueled by fossil fuel combustion. However in this sobering reality lies a powerful opportunity. This is the opportunity to shift to renewable energy, when done responsibly, can reverse some of the damage. On this International Day for Biological Diversity, it is crucial to understand how energy choices are deeply interwoven with the fate of global biodiversity and bring to the forefront what we must do to safeguard it for future generations.
Tom Toro's Cartoon in the New Yorker sparked the conversation on the environment and sustainability
Fossil fuels are not just a climate change driver, they are also aa contributory factor to biodiversity loss and the impending crisis. Extractive industries often destroy habitats directly through mining, drilling, and associated infrastructure.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), coal mining alone has led to habitat loss impacting critically endangered species like the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in India. According to a report by Mongabay News, open-pit coal mining across 13 sites in Central India could lead to the loss of over one million hectares of forest. These forests are vital habitats, with 18% used by tigers, 27% by leopards, and 5.5% by elephants. The report warns that eight major Tiger Reserves could be affected, placing approximately 230 tigers, or 13% of India's tiger population, at risk.
According to The Wilderness Society, oil and gas extraction poses serious threats to wildlife by disrupting breeding, nesting, and communication through noise, human activity, and habitat fragmentation. Species like Wyoming's pronghorn antelope and mule deer are particularly affected. Each winter, pronghorn migrate from Grand Teton National Park to the Upper Green River Valley, one of the longest big game migrations in the U.S. But growing natural gas operations have obstructed their path with sprawling well pads and compressor stations, forcing them to navigate degraded landscapes. The report warns that continued energy development could significantly reduce herd populations
Then comes air and water pollution. According to Citizens' Climate Lobby, burning fossil fuels releases a mix of harmful pollutants including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter that contribute to global warming, smog, acid rain, and severe respiratory illnesses. Bloomberg reports that air pollution is responsible for as many as 1 in 10 deaths in the United States.
The impact is not only limited to the air. Fossil fuel operations, especially fracking, have been linked to groundwater contamination. Studies show that water sources near shale gas development can contain up to 17 times more methane. Coal ash ponds and acid mine drainage pose additional threats, with the EPA identifying over 1,000 U.S. sites contaminated by coal ash, affecting rivers, streams, and drinking water according to the Citizens' Climate Lobby report.
Finally, fossil fuels drive term threats to biodiversity. The 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report warns that over 1 million species face extinction, many within decades, if warming exceeds 1.5°C. Warming oceans bleach coral reefs, disrupt monsoons, and alter migratory routes of birds, whales, and butterflies.
A two-toed sloth (choloepus hoffmanni) perched on branches near the forest of Cahuita National Park, ... More overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica.. (Photo by:Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The transition to renewables solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy offers tangible biodiversity benefits when done thoughtfully. Costa Rica offers a shining example. In the 1980s, rampant deforestation left the country with just 21% forest cover. According to the OECD Environmental Performance Review 2023, Costa Rica has achieved major environmental milestones, including reversing deforestation, producing nearly 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, and expanding protected areas to cover 25% of land and 30% of marine territory well above OECD averages. The country, which hosts about 6% of the world's biodiversity, has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and reduced net greenhouse gas emissions by 13% between 2010 and 2017, despite a 11% rise in fuel combustion emissions from 2010 to 2021. Its Payment for Environmental Services program has helped restore forest cover to nearly 60% which is evidence that we can collectively work to improve the biodiversity.
Humpback whale playfully swimming in clear blue ocean while blowing bubblesHumpback whale playfully ... More swimming in clear blue ocean
To protect and regenerate biodiversity while addressing energy needs, we must embrace a new ethic rooted in sustainability and equity. Here are five critical actions:
1. Rapidly Scale Up Clean Energy Wisely.
Deploy solar, wind, and bioenergy in biodiversity-friendly ways. According to the IUCN, siting wind farms away from bird migration corridors to avoid collision during their annual migration. Additionally, ensuring solar farms avoid grassland ecosystems can dramatically reduce ecological risks.
2. Enforce Strong Land-Use and Environmental Protections
Often times as humanity, we trade one harm for another. Environmental impact assessments must guide all energy infrastructure for both renewable and non renewable energy. This includes incorporating Indigenous and local knowledge in decision-making.
3. Restore Ecosystems at Scale
Invest in reforestation, rewilding, and wetland rehabilitation to ensure that every megawatt of clean energy deployed is paired with habitat restoration.
4. Phase Out Or Reduce Fossil Fuel Subsidies.
Globally, fossil fuel subsidies exceeded $7 trillion in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. Redirecting even a fraction of this toward biodiversity conservation would be transformative for species that are at risk.
5. Support Indigenous Stewardship.
According to National Geographic, indigenous people comprise of less than 5% of the world's population, host and protect 80% of remaining biodiversity. Respecting their rights and land tenure is essential for both conservation and justice.
As we reflect and celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity we should accept the call to reimagine our relationship with the planet. The energy we choose to use shapes the ecosystems around us. Moving away from fossil fuels is not just a climate imperative, but is an essential lifeline for millions of species, including our own. Investing in renewables and restoring the natural world, are bold yet essential steps we can take to create a thriving, biodiverse planet, rich not only in energy, but in life, sustaining our future.