This extensive literature review identifies the impacts of different renewable energy 9 pathways on ecosystems and biodiversity, and the implications of these impacts for 10 transitioning to a Green Economy. While the higher penetration of renewable energy is 11 currently a backbone of Green Economy efforts, an emerging body of literature 12 demonstrates how the renewable energy sector can affect ecosystems and biodiversity. The 13 current review synthesizes the existing knowledge at the interface of renewable energy and 14 biodiversity accross the five drivers of ecosystem change and biodiversity loss of the 15 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) framework (i.e. habitat loss/change, pollution, 16 overexploitation, climate change and introduction of invasive species). It identifies the main 17 impacts and key mechanisms for a number of different renewable energy pathways, 18 including solar, wind, hydro, ocean, geothermal and bioenergy. Our review demonstrates 19 that while all reviewed renewable energy pathways are associated (directly or indirectly) 20 with all of the five MA drivers of ecosystem change and biodiversity loss, the actual 21 mechanisms of impact depend significantly between the different pathways (and the 22 environmental contexts within which they operate). We put these findings into perspective 23 by illustrating major knowledge/practices gaps and policy implications at the interface of 24 renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and the Green Economy.

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