
On the second day of the Wingspan conference in Brussels, 16 October 2024, our partner Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) held a workshop called ‘Connecting Biodiversity 2.0’. This event was a follow-up to a previous workshop held in November 2023 entitled ‘Connecting Biodiversity’, which convened environmental NGOs to discuss the status-quo of bird protection along the electricity grid, and which published 'Seven key principles for a bird-friendly electricity grid infrastructure in Europe'. This document was endorsed by 24 civil society signatories across 18 countries in June 2024.
The 2024 workshop, ‘Connecting Biodiversity 2.0’ was held in the spirit of strong collaboration among various stakeholders to jointly discuss and further the key principles identified by the conservation community. Over 50 participants attended the workshop, representing civil society, transmission and distribution system operators (TSOs and DSOs), and European and national authorities from 17 countries, including organisations from beyond the European Union, such as Morocco and Turkey.
The event successfully fostered meaningful dialogue and built on the momentum of previous efforts, reinforcing the collaborative spirit essential for achieving a bird-safe electricity grid.
Discussions underscored persistent challenges, such as fragmented national approaches, insufficient funding for civil society, and limited awareness of effective technical solutions. Importantly, participants proposed concrete next steps to address these barriers.
Read the document below which provides a great summary of the discussions and outlines proposed next steps.
For more information about Wingspan 2024 and access to event materials, visit RGI's website.
Questions? Get in touch with Manon Quetstroey at manon@renewables-grid.eu.