Check out these resources for more information about Arctic policy!
Arctic Policy
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress
Arctic Wildfire Policy
Arctic Wildland Fire Ecology Mapping and Monitoring Project (ArcticFIRE)
Circumpolar Wildland Fire Project
Arctic Oil policy
Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
National Resources Defense Council
Steps you can take
While fossil fuel emission from oil drilling and Arctic wildfires increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a tangible step you can take is to reduce your own carbon footprint! Here are some easy changes you can make…
- reduce driving time… carpool, use public transportation, bike!
- eat less meat (just on Mondays maybe?)
- reduce food waste
- unplug devices and appliances when not in use
- switch to LED lightbulbs
- go thrifting instead of buying new clothes
- stay up to date on Arctic issues and science!
Policy Recommendations
Ban all oil drilling in the Arctic by 2040
The Arctic is warming at an alarming pace, with oil spills and peatland fires degrading the environment and releasing massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, resulting in a number of positive feedback loops, furthering climate warming. Arctic infrastructure for oil drilling and pipelines is crumbling under the present environmental pressure. The only way to prevent further degradation and warming is by initiating tangible and drastic change, starting with preventing the extraction of oil in the Arctic and around the world. We propose attacking this problem at the source, by committing to ban all oil drilling by 2040 and prevent the construction of new oil wells by 2030. States will also commit to taxing existing oil extraction in order to create a remediation fund to clean up existing oil sites. By planning ahead, this oil drawdown will ensure that oil extraction is sustainably phased out of the Arctic region. However, hydrocarbon extraction is an important resource for many states, and therefore limitations on natural gas extraction are not included in this proposal.