By Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) – Environmental groups have condemned the Biden administration’s defense of a proposed ConocoPhillips oil development in Alaska, a drilling project approved under former President Donald Trump.
Climate activists had previously said they were encouraged that upon taking office in January, President Joe Biden signed an order to rejoin the Paris Accord and revoked federal permits for the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Both issues were priorities for environmental activists.
However, the administration’s backing of the Alaska oil drilling project on Wednesday brought scathing criticism from environmental groups.
“It is a serious misstep to pass on administrative authority to constrain an out-of-control oil industry while simultaneously punting to a deadlocked Congress for climate action,” John Noel, a senior climate campaigner with Greenpeace USA, told Reuters.