Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables (GINGR)
A collaboration between IUCN and Renewables Grid Initiative, the Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables (GINGR) accelerates a people- and nature-positive energy transition. By creating global tools for monitoring renewable energy’s impacts, it ensures wind, solar, and grids support both climate goals and biodiversity.
Vision
A rapid energy transition enabled by wind, solar and electricity grids that embraces Nature- and People-Positive goals.
Mission
We facilitate Nature- and People-Positive renewable energy and grid deployment by establishing an industry-supported and government-endorsed monitoring and reporting framework on a global scale.
Background
A truly just and sustainable energy transition requires a massive and speedy build-up of renewable energy sources and electricity grids globally. The Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables (GINGR) is a collaboration between the IUCN and Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI). GINGR is a platform for voluntary collaboration between state and non-state actors working with the shared interest of ensuring that future renewable and renewable grid systems are environmentally sustainable, proactively accounting for and disclosing impacts on biodiversity and measures put in place into ameliorate such measures with an ambition of contributing towards global Nature Positive goals.
Launched at UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, GINGR has received high level support with energy and climate ministers from Belgium and Ireland, along the South African Presidential Climate Commission vice chair participating in the launch event. Following the events in Dubai, the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and The David & Lucile Packard Foundation have committed to fund the initial establishment of GINGR and an offshore wind focussed work programme. RGI and IUCN co-lead GINGR through a Governance Board and are responsible for the financial reporting and implementation of GINGR activities. An International Advisory Board was established in 2024 to provide strategic direction and leadership to the implementation of GINGR.
Therefore, GINGR starts its operation with several Technical Working Groups.
- Metrics – Building a toolbox of metrics and approaches to assess contribution to Nature- and People-Positive offshore wind and associated infrastructure, complemented by guidance documents and test pilots.
- Offshore Wind – Developing guidance for the global roll-out of offshore wind and grids, looking at the challenges, opportunities and lessons learnt to ensure contributions towards Nature- and People-Positive.
- Linear Infrastructure – Developing a pilot framework to measure the contributions of power lines to nature and people’s well-being.
- People-Positive - Developing a framework and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of renewables and grids in delivering community benefits and People-Positive outcomes
- Monitoring - Defining tools and methods for national monitoring systems, with the aim of promoting standardised approaches to allow aggregation of data into a common system
- Reporting – Elaborating a global reporting system based on the outcomes of the other TWGs.
Metrics Framework
GINGR aims to support governments, industries, civil society, and the financial sector in achieving their energy, climate, and biodiversity targets in a timely and mutually beneficial manner.
The Metrics WG, led by IUCN, aims to evaluate the different metrics that should be used to assess the positive and negative impacts of offshore wind developments on biodiversity, and thus their potential to deliver Nature Positive outcomes aligned to emerging guidance from IUCN. This will then be complemented by guidance documents and test pilots.
Key objectives include:
- Assess and evaluate the different metrics that should be used to measure the positive and negative impacts of “offshore wind” on biodiversity, and thus their potential to deliver Nature Positive outcomes aligned to emerging guidance from IUCN;
- Identify common metrics applicable to the linear infrastructure, intercoastal and offshore WG and provide technical advice and guidance to the sector;
- Identify research and evidence-based knowledge gaps if/where appropriate;
- Represent the Metrics Working Group at events taking place at international events
Opportunities
GINGR is actively seeking support to start several workstreams focused on incorporating Nature- and People-Positive approaches to terrestrial renewable energy generation and grid expansion and development.
To learn more about GINGR’s activities, please refer to their website, including their publications and follow their Linkedin page and RGI’s Bluesky and Twitter/X profiles to stay up to date. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
