The US government has approved a controversial oil drilling project from energy company Conoco Phillips in Alaska. During the election campaign, President Joe Biden had promised not to allow any further drilling on state land. People around the world are already protesting the “Willow” project on social media.
Three drilling sites are planned, which should produce 600 million barrels of oil over the coming decades. The Conoco Phillips company expects a production volume of 180,000 oil per day. The new project is expected to generate billions in revenue for the state and region, for example through taxes and license fees.
During the election campaign, US President Joe Biden had promised not to allow any further drilling on state land. Shortly after taking office in early 2021, he also announced a temporary halt to drilling in the Arctic. After that, Biden may have changed his mind about oil drilling. He defended the Willow Project in Antarctica, which was approved under his predecessor Donald Trump. The Ministry of the Environment stressed that all environmental requirements had been met. In addition, the energy company has ‘valid ground lease rights’.
Environmental groups sued
Environmental groups, on the other hand, point to the damage to climate and the environment caused by oil drilling. Representatives have already filed a lawsuit against the project, and “Willow” was also temporarily put on hold following the ruling of an appeals court. According to the energy company involved, the oil reserves in Alaska will last about 30 years. 2,500 jobs are expected during the construction phase and 300 in the long term.
Since many local residents hope for an economic upswing, they do not clearly reject the new project. On the other hand, the hashtag #StopWillow has been trending for weeks on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. With pictures of bears, seals and other animals native to Alaska, users are calling for the project to be stopped. An online petition has also been started. According to Lützerath, “Willow” could become a symbol of international climate protests, which are mainly led by young people.
Young people are afraid
Scientist Alaina Wood, who also publishes videos on TikTok, told the Washington Post that she had never seen so many videos or comments about a climate issue on social media. This could be an expression of users’ “climate anxiety”. Misinformation would add to these concerns.
Lawsuits are still expected in the US. The cost of the oil drilling project is estimated to be around $8 billion.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
