LONGi – IUCN collaboration to support solar energy sector to contribute to biodiversity goals – EQ
In Short : LONGi has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to align solar energy projects with biodiversity goals. The collaboration emphasizes eco-friendly solar solutions, biodiversity assessments, and innovation to protect habitats. This initiative aims to balance renewable energy growth with environmental conservation, advancing sustainability while supporting global biodiversity preservation efforts.
In Detail : The MoU was signed during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, by LONGi’s Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zhang Haimeng and IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis, in the presence of Ant Group Director of Sustainable Development Wang Xiaoying. This collaboration highlights the importance of integrating corporate climate action with biodiversity conservation efforts.
Speaking at the event, Stewart Maginnis said, “This collaboration marks a pivotal step toward integrating renewable energy with biodiversity conservation. By aligning LONGi’s innovation in solar technology with IUCN’s expertise in nature conservation, we aim to pioneer solutions that advance global decarbonisation while protecting and restoring ecosystems.” He recognised that this collaboration is an active response by LONGi to IUCN’s guidelines on the biodiversity impact of solar energy projects.
Zhang Haimeng underlined the initiative’s intentions, saying, “All things grow, and life is continuous. We call on humanity to join hands in protecting the Earth’s biodiversity and achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This is not just an initiative, but a call to action, looking forward to everyone contributing to the protection of biodiversity and the maintenance of ecological balance.”
The MoU outlines potential areas of collaboration between IUCN and LONGi. In addition to supporting the solar energy sector to contribute towards global biodiversity goals, the partnership could help promote the potential for photovoltaic projects to have benefits for nature and raise awareness of conservation in the solar energy industry.
Considering biodiversity at every stage of a solar energy project is important to minimise negative impacts and support nature where possible. For example, LONGi has built a 50,000-acre photovoltaic power station on three idle dumps in the Shengli coal mine, which help save water by reducing surface water evaporation by 20-30% through physical barriers, improve the environment for plants, and help ecological restoration.
The MoU proposes an initiative to call on companies to develop and implement climate and biodiversity protection measures in accordance with international multilateral environmental agreements and global standards, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The proposed initiative also advocates for companies to establish a corporate culture for biodiversity conservation and to promote international cooperation, sharing, and dissemination of global best practices through partnerships.
Working together, IUCN and LONGi aim to expand awareness and inspire action for biodiversity through sharing their expertise in nature conservation and solar technology. This MoU follows the announcement of the AliPay Ant Forest campaign, which also aims to inspire people to take action for the planet.
