Managing renewables’ impact on Victorian birds

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two massive challenges facing Victoria’s birds and people. The Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action is consulting on how to best manage renewables projects in the state, while also protecting threatened biodiversity.

This is a great opportunity for us to support an initiative that can see the urgent climate change actions we need in Victoria better consider nature from the start, ensuring the best outcomes for people and nature - and of course Victoria's amazing birds.

Consultation closed 16th February 2025.

Thanks to all who added their voice on this issue, and helped us seek a win-win for Victoria on climate change and biodiversity.

Together, we can ensure urgent climate action doesn’t come at the expense of nature around Australia.

BirdLife Australia’s position:

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the greatest challenges of our time. We welcome the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)'s draft handbook, which seeks to ensure the impacts of renewable energy developments consider our most threatened wildlife.

Clear and consistent guidelines and best practice protocols are needed to ensure renewable energy projects do not further impact the recovery of critical bird species or Victoria's precious nature, like Endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos.

Specifically, BirdLife Australia supports immediate action to address the climate crisis that:

• includes a rapid, large-scale, sustainable, and considered transition to renewable energy to reduce and reach net zero carbon emissions targets as soon as possible.

• delivers outcomes for climate, nature and communities; and

• avoids both harm to biodiversity and jeopardizing the provision of nature-based solutions to climate change

While all energy infrastructure, including renewables, impacts nature in some way, it is important that we avoid, manage, and minimise those impacts through rigorous environmental assessments, biodiversity mapping and monitoring. That way, we can best ensure new energy projects are developed in the best places for threatened birds and nature from the start, meaning we can tackle both climate change and energy needs without abandoning biodiversity.

Photo: Red-tailed Black-cockatoo by Merrillie Redden