Unsound renewable energy source development threatens an umbrella species in a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot

Harnessing the power of Renewable Energy Sources is considered a viable solution for reducing anthropogenic carbon emissions that drive climate change, and it is an integral element of current climate policies. However, the development of utility-scale Renewable Energy Sources is now outpacing that of distributed renewable energy and is directly linked to habitat loss and other negative impacts on biodiversity. Using an umbrella species, the brown bear (Ursus arctos), as a case study, we assessed whether the development of Renewable Energy Sources, as implemented currently in Greece and other countries worldwide, is compatible with the conservation of a biodiversity hotspot. Our results indicate that the spatial development of Renewable Energy Sources in Greece has not paid the necessary attention regarding a critical umbrella species and its habitats, as potentially more than 50 % of the suitable habitat will be negatively affected; if unchallenged, the combined effects of habitat loss and increased anthropogenic activity of the current Renewable Energy Sources development will threaten brown bears and biodiversity in general in Greece. To address this, the development of Renewable Energy Sources should adopt a spatial planning approach aligned with biodiversity conservation priorities, strengthen environmental assessment quality controls for project approval, and implement systematic monitoring of ongoing projects to minimise the impacts of Renewable Energy Sources on biodiversity. Our methodology and conclusions are transferable to other species and locations. They are therefore of global significance, given the continuous decline in biodiversity and the rapid development of Renewable Energy Sources worldwide.