NEW YORK (January 8, 2025) — The Nationwide Audubon Society as we speak launched Birds and Offshore Wind: Developing the Offshore Wind that Birds Need, a report that makes the case for responsibly sited offshore wind growth that addresses potential dangers to birds based mostly on the most effective accessible science. The report shares clear methods and coverage suggestions for balancing clear vitality demand with conservation with a view to fight local weather change whereas defending birds and their habitats.
“Our objective is at all times to guard birds and the locations they want, and proper now many species face population-level impacts from local weather change and biodiversity loss,” mentioned Garry George, Senior Director for Local weather Technique on the Nationwide Audubon Society. “To assist guarantee a future the place birds and folks can thrive, we should speed up offshore wind growth whereas successfully addressing any unintended dangers to birds and their habitats. With clear methods and coverage suggestions, this report reveals how wildlife conservation and offshore wind vitality growth can go hand in hand.”
Birds face unprecedented challenges from local weather impacts. Audubon’s 2019 Survival by Degrees report discovered that two-thirds of North American hen species will likely be prone to extinction until we sluggish international temperature rise. Transitioning to scrub vitality is the quickest and only means to do that. Offshore wind is a vital and obligatory vitality supply in assembly demand and transitioning away from carbon-intensive fuels. It additionally affords a number of benefits over land-based wind or different clear vitality sources, together with increased wind speeds that generate extra electrical energy over longer intervals.
With a protracted historical past of advocating for seabirds, shorebirds, and different migratory birds and over a decade of expertise influencing clear vitality siting, Audubon has proven how growth can progress whereas prioritizing wildlife habitat and offering neighborhood advantages. Following nearly a yr of analysis, this report outlines potential impacts of offshore wind growth on birds and their habitats and offers choice makers and builders with efficient methods to deal with them—akin to planning tasks away from vital hen habitat and implementing measures to cut back collision dangers. Federal offshore wind tasks presently underneath growth or development within the U.S. had been sited to keep away from areas which will have increased hen abundance, and builders are monitoring to raised perceive dangers.
Audubon requires advancing offshore wind vitality utilizing a four-step course of: take away critically necessary hen habitat from consideration, implement identified minimization measures and analysis new ones, offset unavoidable impacts when obligatory, and conduct monitoring earlier than and after development. Moreover, the report offers an outline of the offshore wind allowing course of; requires insurance policies that prioritize wildlife safety and neighborhood advantages; highlights examples of Audubon’s work making certain that offshore wind growth avoids, minimizes, and offsets impacts on birds; and emphasizes the significance of early and ongoing engagement with native communities and Tribes all through growth.
“Offshore wind needs to be a big a part of the equation for fixing local weather change, which if left unchecked will likely be an infinite extinction risk for birds and wildlife world wide,” mentioned Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rating Member of the Senate Atmosphere and Public Works Committee. “The Audubon Society’s report offers good, accountable suggestions – together with some from my COLLABORATE Act – to steadiness environment friendly offshore wind growth with the safety of birds.”
“Offshore wind is a vital clear vitality expertise, nevertheless it should be developed in a accountable method that protects wildlife, fish, and our treasured ocean and coastal ecosystems. This report identifies quite a few actions that Congress and Federal businesses can take to realize this objective,” mentioned Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Co-Chair of the Home Sustainable Vitality and Atmosphere Coalition (SEEC). “I’m grateful to the Nationwide Audubon Society for this report and their dedication to defending birds and their habitats whereas ushering in a clear vitality future.”
“Ørsted applauds Audubon for recognizing the significance of a speedy and accountable buildout of offshore wind in the US. As this new American trade continues to develop home vitality manufacturing, we’re proud that we already embrace lots of the analysis, monitoring, and mitigation greatest practices referred to as for within the report,” mentioned Ariana Spawn, Regulatory Affairs Lead for Atmosphere at Ørsted. “We look ahead to persevering with to work with federal and state regulators, environmental organizations, fishing trade companions, coastal communities, and Tribes to develop native clear vitality manufacturing whereas investing in jobs and financial growth.”
“Local weather change poses the only biggest risk to the survival of wildlife, ecosystems, and human communities. We all know we should prioritize vitality options that cut back carbon emissions if we need to reside on a wholesome planet,” mentioned John Racanelli, president & CEO of the Nationwide Aquarium. “Offshore wind vitality that makes use of the most effective accessible science and prevents or mitigates impacts to birds and different wildlife is an important component in our race to sluggish rising international temperatures via a renewable vitality portfolio. The Nationwide Aquarium is dedicated to growing public understanding of the alternatives, challenges and advantages inherent in accountable offshore wind growth.”
Birds and Offshore Wind builds on Audubon’s 2023 Birds and Transmission report, which outlines the pressing want for extra transmission capability and shares options for minimizing dangers to birds. The total report is out there on Audubon’s website.
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About Audubon
The Nationwide Audubon Society protects birds and the locations they want, as we speak and tomorrow. Audubon works all through the Americas utilizing science, advocacy, schooling, and on-the-ground conservation. State packages, nature facilities, chapters, and companions give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches hundreds of thousands of individuals every year to tell, encourage, and unite numerous communities in conservation motion. A nonprofit conservation group since 1905, Audubon believes in a world during which folks and wildlife thrive. Be taught extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Media Contact:
Megan Moriarty, megan.moriarty@audubon.org
