The Artic Wildlife Refuge

The Artic Wildlife Refuge 

By Addie McClure

         A recent issue that the climate was facing was Trump's fight to let oil drilling at the Arctic Wildlife refuge. The Arctic Wildlife Refuge is 19,286,722 acres of land in Alaska that is controlled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All of the land provides a great space for conserving habitats for a variety of different species. Trump decided in his final month in office to auction off the land of the refuge to companies to drill on. Previously in 2017, congress opened up the area for drilling, but nothing happened because there is a long process that needs to happen before companies can actually start drilling. Trump also wanted to allow seismic testing to happen at the wildlife refuge which would greatly impact so many of the important species living there. Thankfully many people came to the defense of the refuge. The administration was faced with lawsuits from many groups and petitions with an incredible amount of supporters.  

          Many of the species at the refuge migrate. So the impact of the destruction would spread all over the world because the species are part of multiple ecosystems. The environment is vital to the people who live on and near it as well. Indigenous people rely on this land for living and it is sacred for them. These types of issues are not just contained to this area, they are happening in so many other conservation areas. The issues with Arctic Wildlife Refuge should be applied to the rest world as well.  

          When I found out about Trump's push to drill oil in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, I was upset. The decision was extremely shallow and mindless. So many many species rely on the land and landscape there is vital for both the species living there and us. It was also upsetting to see the complete neglect of indigenous people and their land. I find it disgusting that they would have to change their whole lives just because Trump wanted oil. I believe the current economy should not be prioritized over climate change, because we are near a crisis. The economy will suffer from climate change and people need to realize that it is vital that we take action now. I am glad that the Trump administration is out of office and I hope to see action taken by the Biden administration. 

Works Cited

"Protect the Artic National Wildlife Refuge" NRDC, https://www.nrdc.org/protect-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge. Accessed 28 January 2021.

 "Artic Refuge" Alaska Wilderness League, https://www.alaskawild.org/places-we-protect/arctic-refuge/. Accessed 28 January 2021.

  Plumer, Brad and Fountain, Henry. "Trump Administration Finalizes Plan to Open Arctic Refuge to Drilling" The New York Times, 30 December 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/17/climate/alaska-oil-drilling-anwr.html

   "Trump Rushes To Lock In Oil Drilling In Arctic Wildlife Refuge Before Biden's Term" NPR, 30 December 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/12/03/942052004/trump-administration-sets-last-minute-oil-lease-sale-for-arctic-wildlife-refuge