Alaska governor wants 'more drilling' to deal with climate change
Proposal would see more oil development on protected land
Global warming is costing Alaska big time, and to help pay the bills Independent Governor Bill Walker wants to drill for more oil.
Alaska is already feeling the effects of climate change. For example, the village of Kivalina is facing the prospect of evacuation, as diminishing sea ice leaves the community defenceless against the ocean.
But moving villages, and other climate defense measures, are expensive, and the state can't easily generate the money to pay for the projects.
Alaskans do not pay income or sales tax and the state get most of its revenue from levies on oil and gas, reports the BBC. Meanwhile, oil prices are down and the Trans Alaskan Pipeline, which is supposed to transport two million barrels of oil a day, is running at 25 per cent capacity.
Recently, the state also got the news that Shell will cease oil and gas exploration off the state's northwest coast.
When asked by the BBC if Alaska should be drilling for oil in order to raise revenues, Walker not only said he is in favour of the idea, but that he also supports drilling in the protected lands of the Arctic National Wilderness refuge.
Greenpeace expressed outraged.
By golly he's got it: Alaska Governor's plan to pay for climate change? Drill for more oil <a href="http://t.co/ZTg36tmxJT">http://t.co/ZTg36tmxJT</a> <a href="http://t.co/4uPdaBSUY3">pic.twitter.com/4uPdaBSUY3</a>
—@GreenpeaceSome are wondering if the story is actually satire.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Satire?src=hash">#Satire</a> is dead - Alaska mulls extra oil drilling to cope with climate change <a href="http://t.co/h8VrpOeGEG">http://t.co/h8VrpOeGEG</a>
—@REddCMNot the Onion: Alaska Governor Bill Walker wants to fund climate adaptation via more oil drilling <a href="http://t.co/i7NJ4ja3lZ">http://t.co/i7NJ4ja3lZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateChange?src=hash">#ClimateChange</a>
—@tampabaybucsfanWhile others detected a hint of irony.
Does <a href="https://twitter.com/AkGovBillWalker">@AkGovBillWalker</a> have any idea the cognitive dissonance here? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/climatechange?src=hash">#climatechange</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alaska?src=hash">#Alaska</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArcticDrilling?src=hash">#ArcticDrilling</a> <a href="http://t.co/K08YY2vbC6">http://t.co/K08YY2vbC6</a>
—@KiraOnClimateIn case anyone needs an example of irony: "Alaska mulls extra oil drilling to cope with climate change" <a href="https://t.co/qpXw9FlfDf">https://t.co/qpXw9FlfDf</a>
—@EcoRetweetMy surreality meter just broke. Alaska mulls extra oil drilling to cope with climate change <a href="http://t.co/WkogaE0gIs">http://t.co/WkogaE0gIs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/spunkycarol">@spunkycarol</a>
—@KzShepardLike I said - Irony ain't dead in the Anthropocene! Alaska gov: More drilling needed to fund climate change programs <a href="http://t.co/P3NkgogR21">http://t.co/P3NkgogR21</a>
—@RabagoEnergySome are just in pain.
my brain hurts: search for oil necessary 2 pay for damage caused by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/climate?src=hash">#climate</a> change sez Gov <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alaska?src=hash">#Alaska</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MattMcGrathBBC">@MattMcGrathBBC</a> <a href="http://t.co/ax0r7i218W">http://t.co/ax0r7i218W</a>
—@davewalshphoto