Forest Protection Day: The Energy Transition Must Also Protect Biodiversity

Forest Protection Day (July 17) invites us to reflect on the essential role that forest ecosystems play in regulating the climate, conserving biodiversity, safeguarding water resources, and supporting people's well-being. As climate change intensifies, protecting forests also means strengthening strategies to adapt to and mitigate environmental impacts.

In this context, expanding renewable energy is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the decarbonization of the economy. However, the urgency of a just energy transition does not eliminate the need for sound environmental planning. On the contrary, it calls for new energy projects to be developed responsibly, balancing clean energy generation with nature conservation and respect for local territories.

With this goal in mind, Revolusolar contributed to the development of the study "Socio-Environmental Safeguards for Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Energy." Published in September 2025 and led by Revolusolar, the study was developed collaboratively by civil society organizations, researchers, social movements, and communities directly affected by large-scale solar projects. The publication presents recommendations to strengthen the sustainable deployment of photovoltaic energy across Brazil.

Solar energy is one of the most important technologies for addressing the climate crisis. As highlighted in the Safeguards study, solar power combines environmental, technical, and economic advantages that make it a strategic solution for global decarbonization. It is also one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity worldwide.

Challenges and Expansion

At the same time, the expansion of utility-scale solar projects presents important challenges when it takes place without adequate land-use planning. According to MapBiomas data presented in the Safeguards study, nearly 44.5% of the land currently occupied by photovoltaic power plants in Brazil was previously covered by savanna vegetation, indicating the conversion of native ecosystems. This finding underscores the importance of ensuring that the energy transition includes safeguards capable of preventing additional impacts on already vulnerable ecosystems.

The debate is not about choosing between renewable energy and environmental protection. The challenge is ensuring that both advance together. Forests perform essential functions for climate stability, including regulating water cycles, conserving soils, and maintaining biodiversity. They also support the livelihoods of family farmers, Indigenous and traditional peoples, Quilombola communities, artisanal fishers, and many other populations whose lives depend directly on healthy ecosystems.

For this reason, the Safeguards study argues that decisions about where to locate large-scale solar projects should consider not only technical and economic factors, but also environmental, social, and cultural criteria.

Among its main recommendations are:

• Prioritize already degraded or previously developed land for new solar projects.
• Require comprehensive assessments of alternative locations before environmental licensing.
• Avoid the removal of native vegetation whenever viable alternatives exist.
• Protect ecological corridors and priority conservation areas.
• Establish long-term biodiversity monitoring programs lasting at least ten years.
• Ensure environmental restoration once projects reach the end of their operational life.

These measures aim to reduce environmental risks without slowing the growth of solar energy, strengthening a more balanced and sustainable development model.

The study also emphasizes that a just energy transition depends on the meaningful participation of local communities, transparency throughout environmental licensing processes, and stronger integration between public policies, land-use planning, and environmental conservation.

This perspective broadens our understanding of sustainability. Reducing carbon emissions alone is not enough. We must also preserve the ecosystems that sustain climate stability and protect the rights of the communities that call these territories home.

On Forest Protection Day, this reflection becomes even more relevant. Building a low-carbon future depends not only on expanding renewable energy, but also on conserving Brazil's rich and diverse biomes.

Revolusolar's leadership in developing the "Socio-Environmental Safeguards for Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Energy," together with its ongoing work promoting community solar projects in favelas and underserved communities, demonstrates that energy development and forest protection are not opposing goals. When guided by sound planning, science, social participation, and respect for biodiversity, the energy transition can simultaneously help address the climate crisis while preserving the ecosystems that make this transformation possible.

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