Summary
The report examines the 'renewable energy–land nexus', noting that while renewables are essential for climate mitigation, they generally require more land than fossil fuels. It advocates for siting energy systems on degraded land and implementing dual-land-use strategies to create synergistic benefits for soil health, water management, and community resilience.
Key insights
- Renewable energy systems generally have a larger land footprint than fossil fuels, which creates potential conflicts with food production, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. This footprint is further expanded by the extraction and processing of critical minerals required for these technologies.
- Global adoption of renewables is accelerating, with 2024 data showing they represent 29.9% of global electricity generation and 46% of total installed power capacity. Solar capacity specifically has been doubling every three years, with a record 29% increase in 2024.
- Land degradation can be avoided or reversed by strategically siting renewable energy on modified or marginal land. For instance, solar panels can provide shading or wind protection that promotes vegetation growth and soil health, while low-cost energy at the community level can support zero-emission machinery and sustainable water management.
Cite the original document
- APA
- Rosentreter,, S. J. W. (2025). A Natural Fit. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/renewable-energy-land-management
- Chicago
- Rosentreter,, Stefan Jungcurt,Lynn Wagner,Hillary. A Natural Fit. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/renewable-energy-land-management.
- Wikipedia
- {{cite report |last1=Rosentreter, |first1=Stefan Jungcurt,Lynn Wagner,Hillary |title=A Natural Fit |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=28 November 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/renewable-energy-land-management |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}
- BibTeX
- @techreport{rosentreter2025natural, author = {Rosentreter,, Stefan Jungcurt,Lynn Wagner,Hillary}, title = {{A Natural Fit}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/renewable-energy-land-management}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }
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