The US government announced a ban on oil and gas drilling in parts of Alaska on Friday. More than 5.2 million hectares of land will be protected in the future, according to the US Department of the Interior.
The ban, which has drawn criticism from Republican senators, is intended to help combat the effects of global warming, which is threatening permafrost and altering habitat for native wildlife, the department said.
The measure affects the National Petroleum Reserve area, which is owned by the federal government. The government had already banned new oil and gas projects in September in large parts of the region, home to polar bears, grizzly bears, caribou and hundreds of thousands of migratory birds.
Biden: “Natural wonders demand our protection”
“Alaska’s majestic and rugged landscapes and waters are among the most remarkable and healthiest landscapes in the world,” said US President Joe Biden. “These natural wonders require our protection.”
In the run-up to the presidential elections in November, Biden is trying to polish his green image. His administration’s decision to greenlight a controversial oil production project in northern Alaska, despite warnings from environmentalists, had drawn criticism from the president.
Source: Krone
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