ClientEarth briefing on the Commission’s REPower EU proposal regarding environmental permitting for renewables projects

This briefing provides a brief legal analysis of the Commission’s REPower EU proposal regarding environmental permitting for renewables projects. The roll-out of renewable energy is pivotal to Europe’s efforts to become more energy independent and to reaching crucial climate goals. But the proposal – as currently drafted – does not properly consider other critical environmental goals, such as biodiversity conservation and the need to identify and minimise the environmental impacts of renewable projects. The serious environmental risks posed by aspects of this proposal, coupled with procedural flaws, mean that key changes are needed prior to its adoption.