The Arctic (Alaska)

Location and key facts

  • tundra

  • consists of 8 countries

  • population = 4 million

  • northern hemisphere

  • 1.7 million kmsq

  • national parks

Threats

  • global warming

  • permafrost melting

  • oil/gas exploitation

  • political issues

  • traditional lifestyles

  • biodiversity

Management

  • hard as its 8 countries

  • oil/gas important

  • moving houses above the permafrost

The Future??

  • develop unity

    • The Arctic Council

  • international agreements

  • fund more research

  • sustainability

    • economically/socially/environmentally

Reasons for drilling in ANWR

  • Arctic exploitation is the most advanced in the world (minimum impact, maximum return)

  • Central Arctic Herd is non-migratory so can shift when drilling begins in Prudhoe Bay

  • animal activity is monitored by the state during drilling

  • jobs created (1,000’s)

  • oil imports are the single largest contributor to the USA annual debt

  • built in safety measures to reduce oil spills

  • 95% chance there is 11.6 billion barrales of oil

  • over 78% of Alaskans favour exploration of oil

Reasons against drilling in ANWR

  • early exploration ended with an oil spill

  • land which was set aside to be protected to benefit people in the future is in danger of being destroyed

  • noise/light/seismic activity can cause polar bears to abandon their dens

  • irreversible damage

  • the most biologically rich part of the ANWR

  • not all oil is recoverable

  • cost benefit

  • may only provide 6 months of oil

  • threaten the caribou herd