JUNEAU, Alaska - President Joe Biden's administration announced plans Wednesday for a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic Nationa
Gwich in leaders condemn issuance of Arctic Refuge leases alaska-native-news.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from alaska-native-news.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Trump Auctions Off Arctic Refuge Land to Oil Companies
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, January 14, 2020 (ENS) – The Trump administration has begun to auction off roughly one-third of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling. It is no coincidence that this lease sale was announced with only a few weeks left in the Trump presidency, as President Donald Trump is eager to kickstart Arctic oil drilling before leaving the White House on January 20.
The refuge is home to some of the most diverse and spectacular wildlife in the Arctic, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “The refuge’s rich pageant of wildlife includes 42 fish species, 37 land mammals, eight marine mammals, and more than 200 migratory and resident bird species,” the USFWS says.
AXIS Capital Decides to Stop Insuring Arctic Oil and Gas Projects
AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. said it won’t insure oil and gas projects in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, becoming the first North American underwriter to make the commitment after pressure from native Alaskans and environmentalists.
The move follows similar pledges from France’s AXA SA and Swiss Re AG and comes as indigenous tribes that live in Alaska and Canada push investors, oil companies and insurers to end their support for Arctic oil drilling.
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“We believe climate-related risks are among the most serious issues facing the world today,” Conrad Brooks, general counsel and corporate secretary of Bermuda-based AXIS Capital, wrote in a letter to the Gwich’in Steering Committee, which represents tribes in Alaska and Canada. “We also recognize the importance of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to you and your families, as well as our planet.”