Green power rush puts nature at risk – lawyers

Namibia’s environmental lawyers warn that Namibia’s transition to renewable energy could harm ecosystems if environmental safeguards are not properly enforced. Environmental Lawyers Network of Namibia chairperson Des-Rose Engelbrecht says the country’s push towards cleaner energy must be balanced with the protection of biodiversity and natural resources. “The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is identified as undoubtedly being the greatest global threat to human rights,” she says.

Engelbrecht cautions that while renewable energy is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, projects such as solar and wind farms can still negatively affect ecosystems if they are not carefully planned and regulated. “Namibia’s renewable future will be most credible if built on a legal foundation that protects ecosystems and upholds sustainable development principles,” she says. The sixth National Development Plan, launched in April last year, sets out to increase renewable energy generation capacity from 367 megawatts (MW) to 700MW.