The Trump administration is pushing a plan to begin oil and gas lease sales within the Arctic Refuge’s coastal plain. This is a move that will speed up climate change and other factors, such as wildlife as well as consequences for people. As of now, it is still an ongoing battle to stop the detrimental drilling. Conservation organizations are still fighting for Arctic rights in court, and many hope that once president-elect Joe Biden takes office, he will reinforce protection for the refuge. Oil drilling has extremely harmful effects on not only wildlife but also humans. The popular saying, “oil drilling means oil spilling” does hold truth. No oil company has successfully cleaned up an oil spill. For example, in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill leaked 200 million barrels into the Gulf of Mexico, and only 8% was recovered or burned off. We must keep oil in the ground to protect not only the endangered species in the Arctic, but also the indigenous people that call the Arctic home. 95% of the North Coast of Alaska is already open to drilling, and the last 5% is now in great peril.
Our planet is undergoing climate change, which is caused by the greenhouse effect in which common greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, absorb and re-radiate the sun’s energy that strikes Earth. The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth. Some of the energy is reflected back to space as infrared radiation. Gases in Earth's atmosphere absorb the longer wavelengths of outgoing infrared radiation from Earth's surface. These gases emit the infrared radiation in all directions, both outward toward space and downward toward Earth. This creates a second source of radiation – visible radiation from the sun and infrared radiation from the atmosphere – which causes Earth to be even warmer. How does this connect to the Arctic Refuge? The Arctic refuge is an important carbon reserve. Once the oil drilling begins, the carbon stored deep underground will be released, contributing to major shifts in the global climate. Carbon is a greenhouse gas, and as more of it is released (via vehicles, oil drilling, energy production), more warm air is trapped on Earth contributing to rising global temperatures.
Because of the ongoing greenhouse effect, the Arctic is warming at twice the global average temperature and has increased 6.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1949. As the Arctic warms, ice, snow, and permafrost are melting rapidly, increasing the sea levels and temperatures. Melting ice may create heat waves and other extreme weather events across North America. A loop is then formed because as the Arctic warms, the ice caps melt. As the ice caps melt, the sea levels rise and oceans warm, causing further destruction. This directly impacts humans which can be experienced through more flooding, destructive storms, and heat waves. Because of climate change and the rapidly increasing overall temperatures of the world, the Arctic is directly facing impacts, and oil drilling would only make the effects more widespread and pervasive.
There are thousands of species residing in the Arctic Refuge, some even endangered or threatened. 69/157 species of birds could go extinct. Some species include the porcupine caribou herd, grizzly bears, polar bears, wolves, beluga whales, walruses, seals, and more. These animals could starve, be threatened, and even die. According to the US Endangered Species Act, polar bears are a threatened species and could be directly impacted by the oil drilling. The polar bears rely on the Arctic Refuge’s coastal plain to make dens, give birth, and raise cubs. Seismic surveying is a process that tests for potential oil/gas reserves by sending high pressure vibrations. This directly affects young polar bears who must stay in the warmth of their underground dens for the first three months of their lives. By sending these vibrations through the ground, polar bears could be scared out of their homes, have their homes destroyed, or risk freezing to death. It is similar to an earthquake for the polar bears. Oil spills will also negatively impact the bears by sticking to their fur and preventing the polar bears’ from warming up. Polar bears can also consume oil and toxins which are deadly.
Not only is the wildlife of the Arctic Refuge threatened, but there are also indigenous, native tribes living there. The Arctic Refuge is home to the Athabascan Gwich’in and Iñupiat Peoples. The Gwich’n live in 15 villages in NE Alaska and NW Canada. The porcupine caribou herd, one of the main species that migrate to the Arctic Refuge, play an important role in the Gwich’n culture, food, and clothing. They call the land “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.” The Iñupiat Peoples are reliant on whale hunting as a crucial source of food, community, and culture. These people and tribes are extremely important to our global society, and we must protect their homes.
Oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge would directly impact the ice caps, thousands of diverse species, vibrant, cultural communities, global carbon levels, climate change, and the bottom line YOU and YOUR FUTURE. We have petitions linked in our bio, and you can also donate with the links in our bio. It only takes a few minutes to do your part. We must act now to save not only the Arctic Refuge but also our Earth.
Sign petitions/donate here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nTpYKwDY1MD9nTba0n31FOA0B3N7nMsczQHOxjn8Oh0/edit?usp=sharing
Sources/Further Reading: https://docs.google.com/document/d/148M7DaLkFnZ3AzkHcPKIssgqCEPr1h7yOCu-8QNPovg/edit?usp=sharing
