Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2026-10-31 00:05:15
BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) — A new framework could help energy transition projects protect biodiversity while advancing the shift to cleaner energy, according to a report released Thursday at a side event in Beijing during the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
The report, titled Energy Transition Empowers Biodiversity Conservation, was released by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), which organized the side event. It proposes a four-part framework for biodiversity protection and recommends typical practices.
Liu Zehong, executive vice chairman of GEIDCO, said at the side event that building an eco-friendly energy system not only provides energy security for economic and social development but also preserves living space for all living things.
He added that GEIDCO will study and formulate relevant standards to provide the energy and power industry with methods and tools for better biodiversity conservation practices.
According to the report, the framework includes four aspects: promote, avoid, reduce and offset.
“Promote” means actively creating positive ecological benefits. Energy transition projects are expected to go beyond the baseline goal of “do no harm,” make full use of the unique advantages of clean energy, and proactively support ecosystem and biodiversity conservation.
Such practices include replacing fossil-fuel projects with clean energy projects, providing green energy support for endangered species conservation, and restoring damaged habitats through integrated development models.
The report cited the photovoltaic (PV) power base in China’s Kubuqi Desert as an example of restoring damaged habitats. Kubuqi has carried out “PV desertification control,” exploring a composite development model with power generation from the panels, planting beneath them, and livestock rearing between them.
“Avoid” means steering clear of highly sensitive areas. It aims to prevent irreversible ecological damage from the start. For example, site and route selection should avoid nature reserves, critical habitats, breeding grounds and migration corridors. Construction should be scheduled to avoid bird breeding seasons, fish spawning and migration periods, and animal migration seasons.
“Reduce” means on-site protection and lowering negative impacts. When impacts cannot be fully avoided, their scope, intensity and duration should be minimized through practices such as reducing pollution emissions, maintaining habitat connectivity and installing protective facilities to mitigate disturbance.
“Offset” means off-site compensation to achieve no net loss. It involves equivalent compensation outside the project impact area for residual impacts after reduction efforts. Offset practices include off-site reconstruction of damaged habitats, ex situ conservation of rare species, artificial breeding and preservation of genetic materials.
The report said the recommended practices cover the entire life cycle of energy projects, involving clean substitution, composite development, engineering mitigation, on-site restoration and off-site conservation. Different types of energy projects can choose one or more of these practices as appropriate to promote win-win outcomes between energy transition and biodiversity conservation.
GEIDCO also released the 2026 List of Energy Transition for Biodiversity and the Practical Cases of Energy Transition for Biodiversity 2026 at the side event.
GEIDCO is a non-profit international organization headquartered in Beijing and dedicated to promoting sustainable energy development worldwide. It has 1,450 members from 145 countries, covering fields such as energy, electricity, transportation, information, finance, science and technology, and meteorology.  ■

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