Motion 044

Scientists estimate that millions of bats are killed annually by collisions with wind energy turbines (Voigt et al. 2024; Whitby et al. 2024), and the population impact can be significant enough to threaten species survival (Friedenberg & Frick 2021). The rapid expansion of renewable energy development in response to the climate crisis can be made sustainable by reducing the impact of power production infrastructure on biodiversity loss. Nearly two decades of research have measured the impact of wind energy generation on bats and other wildlife, and a significant body of work has tested the efficacy of techniques to minimize bat fatalities at wind turbines. This research has identified effective ways to reduce bat fatalities while supporting wind facilities’ successful operations. The current motion is necessary to promote adherence to these techniques for two reasons. First, the scope of this problem is global and includes stakeholders in government, finance, renewable energy, and conservation. The IUCN is in a position to communicate recommendations that can reach diverse stakeholders around the world. Additionally, industry will require incentives due to some reduced energy production from current curtailment strategies, and there is a lack of equity if not all facilities agree to adopt operational adjustments. Our recommendations draw from excellent guidance documents including the Good Practice Handbook on Post-construction Bird and Bat Fatality Monitoring for Onshore Wind Energy Facilities in Emerging Market Countries (IFC 2023), the North American Society for Bat Research (NASBR) and Australasian Bat Society Inc. (ABS) statements on wind energy and bats, but solutions require States and international financial institutions (IFI) to buy in and formalize incentives and requirements. All stakeholders should share in activities to support these efforts. The conservation community should provide data and tools to assess impact and design effective mitigation. Industry must evaluate risk to bats and implement mitigation measures. States and IFIs will need to develop regulatory policies and monitor for compliance.

Selected Relevant Citations

Friedenberg, N. A., and W. F. Frick. 2021. Assessing fatality minimization for hoary bats amid continued wind energy development. Biological Conservation 262: 109309. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109309.

IFC. 2023. Post-construction Bird and Bat Fatality Monitoring for Onshore Wind Energy Facilities in Emerging Market Countries. Good Practice Handbook and Decision Support Tool. Washington DC.

Voigt, C. C., E. Bernard, J. C.-C. Huang, W. F. Frick, C. Kerbiriou, K. MacEwan, F. Mathews, A. Rodríguez-Durán, et al. 2024. Toward solving the global green–green dilemma between wind energy production and bat conservation. BioScience: biae023. doi:10.1093/biosci/biae023.

Whitby, M. D., M. T. O’Mara, C. D. Hein, M. Huso, and W. F. Frick. 2024. A decade of curtailment studies demonstrates a consistent and effective strategy to reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines in North America. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 5. doi:10.1002/2688-8319.12371.