As offshore wind energy continues to expand globally, the need for robust, standardised biodiversity monitoring has become increasingly urgent. Monitoring marine biodiversity is essential not only for understanding and mitigating the impacts of offshore infrastructure on nature, but also for supporting evidence-based decision-making, fostering regulatory alignment, and ensuring that the energy transition is ecologically responsible.
Join this 90-minute GINGR webinar, organised in collaboration with IUCN, OCEaN, and RGI, to explore emerging approaches to biodiversity monitoring in the context of offshore wind and grid development. The session will open with a keynote from Dr. PJ Stephenson, who will discuss the challenges and opportunities of standardising biodiversity monitoring, as well as innovative technologies and frameworks shaping the future of data collection for marine species. As the author of GINGR’s recent publication on this topic, Dr. Stephenson’s presentation will also touch on the paper’s key conclusions.
The webinar will feature regional case studies from the North Sea and Asia, offering practical insights into how different regulatory contexts influence monitoring approaches and how methodologies are adapted to local ecological conditions and applied by industry. Speakers will highlight lessons learned, best practices, and strategies for harmonising biodiversity monitoring in different regions and across borders.
Speakers
- Annika Lilliestam, Coordinator - GINGR (Moderator)
- Dr. PJ Stephenson, Conservation Consultant
- Christiaan van Sluis, Senior Marine Ecologist, The Rich North Sea
- Peng Zhao, Associate Professor, Hainan University
- Volker Türk, Head of Sustainability, RWE Offshore Wind
Join us for this timely discussion on advancing biodiversity monitoring to support a Nature-Positive energy transition. Through expert presentations and an interactive panel discussion, we will explore how consistent, transparent, and collaborative monitoring practices can underpin responsible offshore wind and grid development and help align energy and biodiversity protection goals.
