Biodiversity Protection related to Renewable Energy Sources: Precautionary Principle
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| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | The use of renewable energy is growing worldwide as it has an important role to play in promoting the sustainable development. A binding minimum target should be achieved by all Member States of the European Union by 2020 as far as the renewables are concerned. The concept of sustainable development relates to enforcing the environmental development without the negative impacts of this effort onto the economic and social spheres (or vice versa), which is not always possible. The main obstacle to the development of some renewable energy sources is the environmental one. Although the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources is one of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions it could have negative impacts on the environment. Biomass cultivation could entail negative effects on biodiversity. Some countries plant invasive alien species as bioenergy crops despite the risk of the spread into unintended habitats. Alien species that become invasive are considered to be the main direct driver of biodiversity loss across the globe therefore the cultivation is either preventively regulated or banned. Several international treaties and EU Directives have been adopted in order to prevent the introduction of those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. This aim should be fulfilled through the application of precautionary principle, the most controversial principle of environmental law. This concept relates to the lack of full scientific certainty in connection with measures to prevent environmental damage. It is essential to put an emphasis on the balancing of interests in legislation. |
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