Clean doesn’t always mean green – understanding the impacts of energy options
Political instability is fuelling the push to energy self-sufficiency, but there is a danger that the self-sufficiency goal is driving energy development that is inefficient and exacerbates social and environmental impacts.
As part of efforts to move towards a Green Economy, societies around the world are looking towards renewable energy options such as hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, wave and tidal power. It is not possible to supply all of the world’s energy needs from just one source. A diverse energy mix is required to meet global demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. All energy options can have negative effects on both the environment and people. For example, the development of wind farms as a ‘clean’ energy source can cause problems for birds and bats if poorly sited. Nuclear power has waste-disposal problems, the manufacture of solar cells can create hazardous waste, hydropower alters freshwater ecosystems and wastewater from geothermal plants affects aquatic ecology. The transmission lines, roads, and other infrastructure associated with all ‘clean’ power projects can all have negative impacts on ecosystems.
The best options are those that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Decisions on which option to choose—whether it is biofuel, local hydropower, solar power or wind—should be based on an understanding of the potential impacts on biodiversity.
One option that has only positive effects for the environment and people (and even our bank accounts) is increasing energy efficiency and reducing our energy use. This is one area in which we can all make a contribution to reducing emissions and reducing our collective impact on the environment.
Ecosystems supporting energy futures
Energy security depends on healthy ecosystems. Rivers, coastal lands and forests deliver services that support energy production. Water is essential for hydropower production, thermo-electric cooling, extraction and refining of oil and, increasingly, biofuel production. Other services provided by nature such as climate regulation, coastal protection and flood control are also important to the energy sector, protecting infrastructure such as power plants, pipelines and electricity cables. But these ecosystem services are not being properly valued or factored into decision making about energy investments and they are all declining.
Climate change increases the risk of disruption to energy generation as well as reduced output. Changes in rainfall patterns affect growth rates of crops used for biofuels and cause fluctuations in hydropower. The efficiency of hydropower generation can also be reduced through dam siltation caused by increased run-off from deforested land, and other unsustainable land use practices.
Climate change and energy
While two thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuel sources, IUCN focuses on the direct impacts of energy options on biodiversity and people. IUCN is working to ensure that energy investments and policy linked to combating climate change are not made at the cost of the environment.
See IUCN's Climate Change section for further information.
