Some thoughts from my panel intervention "Happy coexistence with nature, citizens, and fisheries?"at the Annual Event #WindEurope2024 in Bilbao. As someone deeply involved in pushing for a fast, fair, and nature-friendly #renewableenergy acceleration through my work with Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the discussion was close to my heart. It’s clear that if we want to see the massive volumes of wind energy 🌬 getting off the ground, we need to bring 💚 local communities into the heart of the conversation.
Key takeaways:
🤝 Engaging with Communities:
It's about real conversations and genuine dialogue, understanding local needs and concerns, and acting on them. Developers must move beyond viewing communities as obstacles or mere stakeholders to be informed, towards seeing them as active partners in planning, developing, and sharing the benefits of wind energy projects.
💬 Being Fair, Open, and Inclusive:
It is about early, transparent, and honest communication. Communities must have a say in projects that affect their lives and must be provided with opportunities to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes, including the location, planning, and development of these projects.
💪 The Power of Community Ownership:
When communities can own and co-invest, they see the tangible benefits of wind projects and cherish the projects with pride. These projects do more than just generate power, they EMPOWER communities by ensuring economic benefits are retained locally and foster broad support for the energy transition.
Reflecting on the discussions we had, I'm reminded that at the core of our climate action efforts, it is the peoples participation and their empowerment what truly drive meaningful change. As we continue transforming our societies and economies towards a climate neutral Europe, fully powered by #renewableenergy, let's ensure that every step we take also builds stronger, more resilient communities along the way. #TogetherFor100RE
Mattia Cecchinato Ariel Brunner Guy Willems WindEurope
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