Selected guidance on community engagement BOX 4 –TNFD’s 2024 publication, Guidance on engagement with Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and affected stakeholders122 –SBTN’s stakeholder engagement guidance123 –Forest Peoples Programme’s Guidance on good faith consultation and negotiations with Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and communities124 –The World Economic Forum’s 2023 white paper, Using a People-positive Approach to Accelerate the Scale-up of Clean Power: A C-Suite Guide for Community Engagement125 –EU Horizon Europe project JustWind4All’s Database of Participatory Practices and Social Innovations in Wind Energy Developments126 Avoid development in biodiversity hotspots Companies should collaborate early and often with local and regional stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and environmental and scientific groups to identify areas of high ecological and cultural value. It is essential to avoid marine- protected areas, key biodiversity areas and areas of critical habitat. While critical factors such as wind resources, water depth and distance from the coast must be considered, companies can employ habitat mapping tools and work with governments to arrive at sound marine spatial planning to select sites that prioritize minimal environmental disturbance.Furthermore, maximizing the socioeconomic impacts of offshore wind for local communities should be prioritized as part of the nature strategy. In fact, offshore wind developers are increasing community engagement, focusing on delivering shared value for wider local stakeholders and society through local upskilling, job creation, co-ownership, improved infrastructure and clean energy access for disadvantaged groups.121 Various guidelines and databases exist to support companies in this regard (see Box 4). Maximizing the socioeconomic impacts of offshore wind for local communities should be prioritized as part of the nature strategy. Avoid, then reduce, impacts across project life cycle During all phases of project construction, operations and decommissioning, the adoption of measures to avoid and minimize harm should become standard practice. Companies can reduce known pressures on species and habitats and minimize seabed disturbance. For example, companies could select low-impact technologies and materials (e.g. quiet foundations) and plan construction activities with consideration for feeding and breeding seasons. Cabling is also an important element – there are opportunities to reduce seafloor disturbance and the number of points of interconnection at the coast by, for example, planning for meshed transmission options. In addition, implementing adaptive management practices for monitoring impacts on biodiversity during and after construction, and adjusting operations based on the findings, can demonstrate industry commitment to continuous improvement and learning. As the industry grows and research and innovation advance, it is essential that new technologies contribute to the reduction of negative nature- related impacts. For example, while traditional noise mitigation measures include the deployment of bubble curtains or other noise barriers, Ørsted has successfully piloted a new installation technology at its offshore wind farm in Germany that would replace pile driving. This new method could reduce Nature Positive: Role of the Offshore Wind Sector 30

Nature Positive Role of the Offshore Wind Sector