RSPB statement on Berwick Bank

RSPB response to today's UK Government announcement regarding Berwick Bank windfarm:

Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “Tackling the nature and climate crisis by rapidly transitioning to renewables, including offshore wind, has never been more urgent. However, we have choices in how we achieve this and badly located developments like Berwick Bank will destroy nature in the process.

“Nature and climate action must go hand-in-hand, yet Berwick Bank is expected to kill tens of thousands of protected birds over its lifetime due to its proximity to, and overlap with, important known colonies and feeding grounds. With 70% of Scotland’s seabird species already in decline, today’s backing from the Prime Minister for what we believe would be the world’s deadliest windfarm for seabirds only serves to push us further off course.

“Many other locations and options exist to provide renewable energy without damaging nature to this extent. For the sake of our planet, future generations and our globally important seabird populations, we can and must do better.”