Amidst concerns of failure to follow through on his plan to combat climate change, President Biden has blocked millions of acres of oil drilling—namely, projects leased during the Trump Administration.
In an official statement, the President made clear that his goal is to “help preserve our Arctic lands and wildlife” and “meet the urgency of the climate crisis.” This development in the climate crisis will not go unnoticed and will certainly play a large role in combating climate change, reducing carbon emissions in the U.S. immensely. But one drilling project has not been blocked, despite evoking a large public outcry when it was first implemented.
Earlier this year, environmental activists were alarmed by President Biden’s role in approving the Willow Project, a 6 million dollar proposal to drill oil in Alaska’s Petroleum preserve. The project was projected to provide billions of dollars in revenue and create thousands of jobs, with the hope that expanded production would lower energy and oil prices.
However, Willow would also do irreversible damage to the climate, altering ecosystems of previously undisturbed areas in Alaska and polluting the atmosphere with millions more tons of carbon dioxide each year.
While many are championing the President for blocking the majority of Alaskan drilling, his protection of the Willow Project has been largely overlooked. It is true that the blocking of drilling in Alaska will be a substantial help in reducing carbon emissions and protecting Arctic life. But at this stage in the climate crisis, the United States cannot afford to swap out one drilling project for another, no matter the economic benefits. At what point do we stop allowing revenue to eclipse environmental necessities? After all, the changing climate will not halt for any oil drilling project, whether it was implemented by the Biden or Trump administrations.
For more information visit:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/06/politics/drilling-alaska-national-wildlife-refuge/index.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-cancels-last-oil-and-gas-leases-in-alaskas-arctic-refuge-overturns-sales-held-by-trump
