ConocoPhillips will move forward with full development of its North Slope Willow oil project following a Friday announcement from the company’s chairman and chief executive officer.
WASHINGTON As a decision from the Biden administration on the Willow oil development project nears, a group of North Slope leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., this month to advocate for its approval, emphasizing that their communities stand to gain billions if it is developed.
As Canada, Greenland, and even Norway shy away from developing their Arctic oil and gas resources, only Russia and the US remain in the game as Alaska seeks to renew interest in exploration and development of its North Slope.
Oil Industry’s Fluctuating Fortunes: Recent Wins And Losses In Climate Policy
Climate groups have scored impressive wins over oil companies. A small hedge fund, Engine No. 1, successfully lead a shareholder revolt to get two directors, who want more aggressive climate action, elected to ExxonMobil’s board.
In a case filed by the Dutch affiliate of Friends of Earth International, a Dutch court held Royal Dutch Shell responsible for emissions its consumers generate when using gas and diesel (Scope 3 emissions). The court ordered Shell to reduce its total emissions by 45 percent by 2030, with 2019 (pre-Covid) as the baseline. This is quite a dramatic judgment: the product is legal, has been used appropriately, and is not defective in that it has not inflicted any demonstrable harm on consumers. But it has generated social externalities, which is why the court found the company liable.
Policy progress is seldom linear. The climate movement has scored wins in the political process and lobbying corporations and suffered setbacks. Biden operates in a difficult political terrain. In addition to lobbying Biden, climate groups should also lobby corporations.