Wind energy is among the key green technologies leading the decarbonization of power generation across the world. At the same time, strong environmental and social standards in wind energy investments are key instruments to ensure that these investments do not bring about or result in any social or environmental harm.

Wind power projects involve environmental and social risks that need to be assessed, mitigated, and managed appropriately. These include impacts on marine and avian biodiversity, community access to fishing grounds (for offshore wind farms) and arable land (for onshore wind farms), noise emissions, shadow flicker, and visual impacts. Offshore wind farms offer the technical advantages of higher and more consistent wind speeds but have impacts on marine fauna, particularly marine mammals, due to possible noise and vibrations. 

To discuss these aspects in depth, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in partnership with the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is organizing the Environmental and Social Safeguards Community of Practice (CoP) seminar with a focus on the opportunities and the environmental and social issues arising from the implementation of wind power investments. The seminar aims to present and discuss good practices to manage environmental and social risks on wind power projects that can be applied by market players and emerging market financiers in Asia. Environment and social safeguards specialists and practitioners as well as other market stakeholders will share their experiences of the E&S impacts of wind power projects.

Target audience: 

• Environment and social (E&S) safeguards practitioners and investment operations staff of international financial institutions
• Relevant stakeholders of infrastructure projects in the wind power sector

Format:

The event is a two-day hybrid seminar to be held at the ADB Headquarters in Manila and online via Zoom. Presentations and discussions will be held in English. Presentations and knowledge products will be uploaded on the MCDF JIGSAW Platform and on ADB’s Development Asia website. Participants will be engaged through small group discussions, quick-answer apps, and question-and-answer sessions at the end of each panel discussion.

Feedback:

An online form will be sent to all participants to share feedback and suggestions on the seminar.

Event Structure

Documents:

Concept Note