Exploring the Link Between Energy Resources and Global Biodiversity
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Date
2025-02-28
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Asia Pacific Academy
Abstract
The availability of energy resources and their relationship with global biodiversity
are critical concerns that demand urgent attention, especially given the world’s rising energy
demands. This review paper examines the impacts of both renewable and non-renewable
energy sources on biodiversity across different ecosystems. The extraction and use of fossil
fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—have led to severe pollution, habitat destruction, and climate
change, threatening countless species and ecosystems. The processing and consumption of
these non-renewable resources continue to accelerate biodiversity loss. While renewable
energy sources—such as solar, wind, bioenergy, and hydropower—offer a pathway to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, they also pose biodiversity challenges. Large-scale solar farms alter
land use, causing habitat fragmentation. Wind farms, while crucial for clean energy, threaten
bird and bat populations. Hydropower projects disrupt river ecosystems, affecting aquatic
species’ migration patterns. Similarly, bioenergy production often relies on extensive
monoculture farming, leading to deforestation, agrobiodiversity loss, and competition with
food crops. This paper explores mitigation strategies, emphasizing ecological offsets and
habitat restoration as key conservation tools. These approaches align with global frameworks
such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that energy
policies integrate biodiversity protection. The review highlights the importance of balancing
energy expansion with environmental sustainability through strategic policymaking. A region-
specific approach is essential, given the varying energy needs and ecological sensitivities
across countries. Overreliance on energy-intensive technologies in some regions exacerbates
environmental degradation, necessitating countermeasures to prevent resource
overexploitation. By incorporating biodiversity-conscious energy strategies into decision-
making, it is possible to achieve a sustainable balance between energy production and
conservation. This analysis underscores the need for globally coordinated yet locally adaptive
policies to ensure that the transition to renewable energy does not come at the expense of
biodiversity.
Description
This Journal article was published by Asia Pacific Academy in 2025