Description: To tackle climate change and meet energy demand, North Macedonia needs a significant increase in renewable energy capacity. However, if their siting and development is not carefully planned, renewable energy solutions could put significant pressure on the land and rivers of North Macedonia.

They could adversely impact people and biodiversity,  creating conflicts that not only have negative consequences, but may jeopardise investments and the slow expansion of renewables.

Building up renewable energy on converted lands — those that have already been significantly altered for mining, buildings and other physical infrastructure, and other development activities —provides an opportunity to avoid these conflicts and, instead, accelerate the transition to clean energy. Further, proactive strategic planning that includes environmental and social considerations can increase local benefits for communities, reduce wildlife impacts, and avoid the release of CO2 from converting forests and other natural land and rivers for project development.