arctic resource extraction
Credit: Andy Morffew/Flickr
Biden administration safeguards millions of acres in Alaska from industrial harm
The Biden administration announced protections for 28 million acres in Alaska, blocking industrial activities to preserve Indigenous communities, wildlife and ecosystems.
In short:
- The Interior Department has blocked a 211-mile road essential for a planned copper and zinc mine, citing potential harm to Alaska Native communities and wildlife.
- The protected lands include critical habitats and have been at the center of a long-standing debate over industrial development versus environmental conservation.
- Alaska lawmakers are pushing back, with some introducing legislative measures to counter the administration's decisions.
Key quote:
“D1 lands in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region are vital to our people’s way of life — these protections ensure future generations will be able to live safely with and on the land, carrying our customary and traditional knowledge.”
— Anaan’arar Sophie Swope, executive director of the Mother Kuskokwim Tribal coalition
Why this matters:
Protecting these lands helps protect Alaska Native cultures and ecosystems, addressing long-standing environmental and subsistence concerns while increasing the tension between economic development and conservation efforts in the resource-rich region. Read more: Biden’s Arctic drilling go-ahead illustrates the limits of democratic problem solving.
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Credit: JLS Photography - Alaska/Flickr
Biden's Arctic policy curbs drilling and blocks road construction
President Biden curtails fossil fuel extraction in Alaska, aiming to preserve the region's pristine habitats.
In short:
- The new policy limits future oil and gas drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, focusing on conservation over extraction.
- A contentious road project intended to support a northern Alaska mining venture is also blocked, prioritizing ecological and indigenous concerns.
- Despite the measures' potential to stir political and legal battles, they underscore a strategic pivot towards environmental preservation and climate advocacy.
Key quote:
"Alaska's majestic and rugged lands and waters are among the most remarkable and healthy landscapes in the world, sustaining a vibrant subsistence economy for Alaska Native communities. These natural wonders demand our protection."
— President Joe Biden
Why this matters:
Biden's decision directly impacts health by safeguarding one of the most significant natural habitats, which supports not only wildlife but also the subsistence needs of local communities. Read more: Ending toxic threats to Alaska from plastics and petrochemicals.
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Credit: Adrian Hu/Flickr
Norway boosts oil production, defying environmental concerns
In a move that contradicts its environmental image, Norway has significantly increased oil drilling licenses, indicating a surge in hydrocarbon extraction.
In short:
- Norway awarded 62 new oil and gas drilling licenses, a notable increase from the 47 licenses in 2022.
- This expansion signifies Norway's highest level of oil and gas production since 2010, with peak production expected in 2025.
- Despite environmental concerns, the Norwegian government emphasizes the country's role as a stable energy supplier and job creator.
Key quote:
“This is important for both employment and value creation, as well as for facilitating Norway’s role as a stable energy supplier to Europe."
— Terje Aasland, Norway’s Minister of Energy
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate and health.
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Credit: Adrian Hu/Flickr
Norway expands oil drilling, boosts production
The petrostate awards another 62 drilling licenses to the oil and gas industry and approaches a 15-year high in hydrocarbon extraction.
Newsletter
Americans attack Russian Arctic: new sanctions take aim at LNG and mining
The U.S Treasury adds a significant number of Russian individuals and companies to its sanctions list. It means trouble for the developers of liquified natural gas and new mines in the Russian Arctic.
Top Story
Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/Flickr/https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Biden administration to bar drilling on millions of acres in Alaska
The administration will cancel oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and set aside more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve.
Gigantic Russian flag unveiled in the Arctic Ocean. “It's a sign of dominance and defiance”, geopolitics professor explains.
A group of scientists from the Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute unveiled a 1,400 square metre white-blue-red Russian flag on the sea ice nearby the drifting polar station “Severny polyus-41”.
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