Europe races to meet its 2030 climate goals, and a critical question looms: can we drive the renewable energy transition forward without sacrificing nature, and even restore it?

As of the 21^st of May 2025, EU governments must publish maps of the areas required for the renewable energy capacity and related grid infrastructure to be installed in order to meet their 2030 renewable energy targets. By February 2026, they need to identify Renewable Acceleration Areas. At the same time, Member States will have to work on their restoration plans and publish their drafts in September 2026. A lot is going on in 2025 and in 2026, and national governments will have to ensure they are meeting these legally binding deadlines.   

Although the timelines for renewable energy deployment and nature restoration don’t fully align, the two processes must be closely coordinated to make sure that nature is not forgotten. For this reason, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia published a new briefing that urges governments to take a joint approach for a renewable energy roll-out that respects nature conservation and restoration. The document gives clear, practical advice on how to match Renewable Acceleration Area plans with national nature restoration goals, so that climate action also drives biodiversity recovery.

Ten key areas for action have been identified to help countries align legal deadlines and requirements on renewables with their work on Nature Restoration Plans (NRPs). The briefing highlights the importance of sensitivity mapping for the energy transition. It calls on Member States to align mapping exercises for renewable energy purposes with nature restoration and biodiversity targets, ensuring consistency across planning instruments, and avoiding unnecessary waste of resources in the public and private sector.

But it also includes advice on designing renewable energy auctions that support nature, along with guidance on how to involve the public properly at every stage of the project development and highlights the need to share relevant environmental data publicly.

Renewable energy planning must go beyond simply “doing no harm” and become a driver of active restoration. There are missed opportunities for the sector to have a positive impact on nature.  For instance, renewables auctions can be used to finance restoration auctions, or grid and energy infrastructure upgrades can be co-located with degraded areas that need ecological recovery. National governments also need to invest in their public authorities so they have the staff and skills needed to manage a nature-positive energy transition.

But for such a fundamental nature-inclusive shift, we need national governments, industry, and the EU all to work hand in hand; everyone needs to play their part to make this a success. The European Commission and the energy industry must play their part in the story of restoring nature, through improved data-sharing, more cooperation between EU Member States, and clearer, fairer permitting rules while maintaining environmental protection. Cutting corners through legal shortcuts that weaken nature protection should be avoided at all costs.

Linking renewable energy areas with restoration goals is essential if Europe is to build a resilient energy system and protect nature for the long term. For this reason, this briefing is only the beginning of BirdLife’s wider work to ensure the green transition in Europe is truly green. As policies take shape and deadlines approach, BirdLife will continue to monitor how governments and industry deliver on their commitments, holding them accountable to ensure that Europe’s energy future is not only renewable but also nature positive.

Cover Picture: Vova Shevchuk / shutterstock

Read everything you need to know about an energy transition with nature in mind in our latest briefing: