Climate change and energy crisis drive an unprecedented EU environmental law regression

There are also significant uncertainties about the consequences of relaxing environmental regulations for renewable energy development outside the Natura 2000 network and other protected areas designated for biodiversity conservation (Pérez-García et al., 2022). [...]we expect detrimental effects on different taxa due to the expansion of renewable facilities, particularly on birds and bats, but also on other less-known groups, such as insects (Voigt, 2021). Overall, the new facilities for energy production need a wide transmission and distribution system whose adverse effects on biodiversity have been widely described (Sánchez-Zapata et al., 2016). [...]the amendments to the relevant EU Directive open the door to a disproportionate deterioration of species and ecosystems and are, in fact, an example of unjustified regression. [...]we encourage all actors involved, from scientists to environmental managers, policymakers and civil society, to establish an evidence-based dialogue on where and how renewable energies should be deployed.