The global shift to renewable energy is happening fast — and rightly so for our climate future.
But one big question deserves more attention: what is this transition doing to our land and communities?
From large solar farms and wind corridors to bioenergy and hydropower projects, clean energy systems are reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, and local livelihoods in ways we don’t always plan for.
If we want climate solutions that truly last, renewable energy must go hand-in-hand with:
- Healthy land systems
- Protected ecosystems
- Strong community rights and benefits
A new resource by International Institute for Sustainable Development, developed with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, supported by the European Union, breaks down how renewable energy expansion can strengthen sustainable land management while advancing climate and development goals.
Worth a read for anyone working on climate action, restoration, and just energy transitions.