RSPB warns Boris Johnson’s plan to turn UK into ‘Saudi Arabia of wind’ could put vulnerable seabirds at risk

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. At the Conservative Party Conference earlier this month, Boris Johnson said the UK would aim to become “the world leader in low-cost clean power generation”, adding, “in 10 years’ time, offshore wind will be powering every home in the country, with our target rising from 30 gigawatts to 40 gigawatts”. These human pressures are acting in combination with the effects of climate change and together there is an increased risk of irreversible wildlife losses.” But despite other media reports saying the RSPB was warning that “puffins will be driven to extinction”, by wind power, the organisation confirmed to The Independent it is backing new wind farms, but was concerned about how leases are granted to developers. Offshore wind can impact seabirds through collision, habitat loss, displacement, it can act as a barrier to where seabirds want to reach in terms of foraging or migration - there’s a range of ways it can act on seabirds, but it’s not the only thing going on in our marine environment - increased offshore wind acts in combination with all these other pressures.” She explained the key issue at the moment was that many of the areas being developed for offshore wind overlap with vital seabird habitats. “This would make it a lot easier for developers and investors to go forward and say: ‘Right, these are the areas of least ecological sensitivity, let's do as much wind development in those areas as makes sense’.” One of the birds in worst decline around Britain is the kittiwake.