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Natural England is the government statutory adviser on England’s natural environment – including wildlife, habitats and landscapes – and people’s enjoyment of it. We aim to conserve and enhance the natural environment for present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
As well as advising and working with government, industry, communities and other stakeholders, we are a statutory consultee for development projects and plans that affect environmental interests. The advice we provide is underpinned by the best available evidence.
Climate change and energy challenges
Climate change and man’s ill-considered responses to it are the most serious long term threats to the health of the natural environment. We must urgently address causes and consequences of climate change in order to protect our wildlife, habitats and landscapes and the services they provide. As by far the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the spotlight has fallen on the way we generate and use energy. The transition to a low carbon economy is imperative, to address both anthropogenic climate change and long term energy security.
All types of energy generation and infrastructure can have impacts on the natural environment, negative and positive. The challenge is to deliver the low carbon energy we need in a manner compatible with key environmental goals. That challenge can be met. In essence it means deploying the right technology at the right scale in the right places, but it requires us to think carefully about how we get there. If we fail we risk causing irreversible damage to the environment in our efforts to protect it for the long-term – an ironic outcome, at best.
Energy networks
Energy networks have a crucial role to play in facilitating a low carbon energy system. Here too the level of change required is well documented and has significant implications for our environmental assets. New grid infrastructure will be needed to connect new generating capacity in more remote offshore, upland and coastal locations than has been the case to date. These locations also tend to be more environmentally sensitive.
Natural England’s approach and our ask of industry
The environment is sometimes cast as a barrier to a low carbon future, but we have sustained objections to fewer than 10% of energy planning consultations, fewer still for grid projects. Our ambition is to say yes as often as possible and our “consenting” track record is good, but sometimes we have to say no and this may indicate that a developer has made poor decisions.
A strategic approach to delivering new energy infrastructure makes sense for the environment, and for industry. It offers the opportunity to consider alternatives, integrate objectives and minimise risks, environmental and commercial. Grid infrastructure by its nature brings need and opportunity to think strategically and the environment should be part of that thinking. To that end we are working with National Grid on enhancing their approach to options appraisal.
At the project level we encourage developers to talk to us as early as they can and where possible avoid getting locked into a specific location or design. This is not a means of subverting democratic process. Early engagement is a key plank of the new approach to major infrastructure projects and allows developers to demonstrate that proposals have been informed by open dialogue with interested parties, including communities. It also increases the chances of a positive outcome and can save all parties time and expense.
Finally, a word on promoting good practice. Demonstrating the outcomes that are possible and how we reach them is, in our view, a key ingredient of delivering sustainable energy infrastructure. We will play our part in sharing and celebrating good practice and invite others to help us.
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