Point of view: Let’s plan the energy transition and restoration together!
Alpine spatial planning can help to resolve the contradictions between restoration and the expansion of renewable energy. This requires joint efforts involving the interests of the population and environmental organisations, says Paul Kuncio, Executive Director of CIPRA Austria.
More wind turbines, hydropower plants and solar power plants on the one hand, with more space for wildlife, clean water and healthy ecosystems on the other: from a legal perspective, the revised Renewable Energy Directive and the European Union’s Nature Restoration Regulation are central to climate and biodiversity protection. Both pursue ambitious goals but, in spatial terms, are in competition with one another. Forward-looking and integrative spatial planning is the key to the successful implementation of both laws. The result would be, on the one hand, low-conflict “acceleration areas” for the expansion of renewables and, on the other, areas with a high restoration potential.
The limited space available in the Alps requires careful selection of the necessary areas and a precise weighing up of interests, as sensitive habitats have a variety of uses here. Cross-sectoral spatial planning, in which the public can participate transparently and at an early stage, prevents conflicts that would otherwise be fought out in protracted legal proceedings. It is therefore high time to recognise the value of Alpine spatial planning. It offers a platform for a shared vision in which the competent authorities can work together with sectors such as the energy industry, nature conservation, agriculture and forestry – always with the needs of the population in mind.
To do this, the competent authorities need adequate resources and clear guidelines on how the population can participate in the energy transition and restoration. It is particularly important that they make sufficient time in advance for spatial planning. A high level of acceptance among the population and a jointly developed roadmap for the energy transition and restoration across all sectors will ultimately save valuable time.
Successful spatial planning requires the political will to provide sufficient resources. Administrative hurdles need to be removed and citizens genuinely involved. But environmental organisations must also rethink their positions and contribute to a common vision for the future of the Alpine region.
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