Extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent and severe, and many habitats and species are affected by climate change impacts and habitat destruction. With nature representing over 30% of the global climate mitigation pathway, the need to protect, restore and strengthen our natural environment is critical.
Despite having a leading economy for many years, the UK ranks within the bottom 10% in regards to biodiversity intactness, with less than 53% of its biodiversity now remaining. This is a major challenge, as natural ecosystems play a critical role in tackling climate change, capturing and storing large volumes of carbon, and being an essential part of our lives.

Prioritising these challenges of eliminating our contribution towards global warming and enhancing nature recovery simultaneously, the government launched the Environment Act 2021. Within the act, all new developments, excluding nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), from housing to renewables, are legally required to provide at least a 10% increase in biodiversity, referred to as biodiversity net gain (BNG). This nature uplift can be generated on-site or by other groups off-site.

The requirements of the BNG ensure projects will increase and enhance natural habitats, ensuring sites are left in a better condition than before. 
With national goals of delivering 1.5 million new homes within the parliament and a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030, it’s difficult to ignore the importance of the BNG rulings for the UK’s environmental goals.

While the BNG measures are a major step forward, setting the requirements for new renewable energy and storage projects at 10% will likely encourage developers to only improve small areas of land on-site or purchase offsite BNG units. Some critics believe the biodiversity benefits of these projects are significant, considering technologies like wind and solar have a relatively small footprint on land occupied. Some believe developers of clean energy schemes should provide a minimum biodiversity uplift of 100%, reinforcing the nation’s position as a global leader in climate change mitigation.

Some businesses like NatPower UK have done this, with plans to deliver new nature reserves, lakes and native species of woodland on their battery storage and renewable energy sites. By enabling local communities more access to nature through trails and cycleways, site improvements can enhance their benefits for people and nature, and combat any misperceptions concerning clean energy projects. This approach would improve the planning process timeline and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects across the UK.

This approach sends a clear message that the UK focuses on becoming a global leader in the green economy, with clean energy, nature and our people all prioritised. This would enhance the financial case for investors and developers, ensuring the UK maintains a strong position for clean energy development.

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