Juneau, Alaska — A newly signed executive order by President Donald Trump aims to enhance oil and gas drilling, mining, and logging activities in Alaska, garnering support from state political leaders who view new fossil fuel initiatives as vital for the state’s economic prospects. However, environmental advocates express concern, emphasizing the detrimental effects these plans may have on a planet facing climate change challenges.
The executive order, enacted on Trump’s inaugural day in office, aligns with the priorities outlined by Alaska Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy shortly after Trump’s election. It seeks to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, a region considered sacred by the Indigenous Gwich’in people. The order also intends to lift restrictions imposed by the Biden administration on drilling activities within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska on the North Slope and to ease prohibitions on logging and road construction in a temperate rainforest that serves as a habitat for various wildlife, including bears, wolves, and salmon.
In many respects, Trump’s order aims to reinstate policies that were operational during his first presidential term. However, critics point out that merely signing an executive order doesn’t instantly translate to implementation. Cooper Freeman, the Alaska director for the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasized that environmental laws and regulations must be adhered to, rendering legal escapades against previous policies a complex endeavor. He further stated, “We’re prepared for a substantial battle to preserve Alaska’s natural beauty and resources.”
Regarding plans for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the executive order seeks to overturn a previous decision by the Biden administration that canceled seven leases from the first oil and gas auction conducted in the refuge’s coastal plain. Major fossil fuel enterprises opted out of the auction, which took place in early 2021 during the final weeks of Trump’s first term, leading to the leases being awarded to a state corporation. Two smaller companies had previously relinquished their obtained leases from that sale.
The directive specifies that the Interior Secretary must initiate further lease offerings and issue all necessary permits and easements for exploration and development. Leaders from the Gwich’in community oppose drilling in the coastal plain due to its significance to the caribou herds they depend on, while Iñupiaq leaders from Kaktovik, an area within the refuge, support drilling and hope to have their perspectives acknowledged after feeling sidelined during the Biden administration.
This executive order follows a recent lease sale required by a federal law from 2017, which attracted no bids, raising concerns about future leasing opportunities. State officials recently filed a lawsuit against the Interior Department, alleging that the terms set for the recent lease sale were overly restrictive, further complicating the landscape of Alaska’s energy development.
The political response in Alaska has been overwhelmingly positive. Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican, enthusiastically announced, “It is a new dawn in Alaska,” while Governor Dunleavy expressed approval through social media, asserting that Trump’s actions on his first day signify the importance of electoral outcomes.
Alaska has a notable history of contesting federal regulations perceived to stifle the state’s resource development capabilities. During the Biden administration, state officials voiced concerns over impediments affecting oil, gas, and mineral exploration, even as they celebrated the recent approval of the Willow oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which is currently facing legal challenges from environmentalists.
Governor Dunleavy has consistently pressed for the utilization of Alaska’s resources, promoting carbon storage and offset programs as viable pathways for revenue diversification while continuing to pursue traditional energy sources such as oil, gas, and coal, along with timber initiatives. Nonetheless, Alaska is grappling with significant economic issues as oil production has drastically declined over time, further complicated by a consistent trend of outmigration from the state.
Regarding the implications of Trump’s executive order, Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the conservation organization Center for Western Priorities, criticized it as an overly ambitious initiative attempting to reverse numerous protective measures established over several years during the Biden administration. He remarked, “It would take the Interior Department several years, possibly two terms, to address every aspect of this order, and scientific evidence will be crucial for any future development initiatives,” referencing the pressing climate issues facing the Arctic.
The repercussions of climate change are visibly impacting communities in the region, presenting challenges such as reduced sea ice, coastal erosion, and permafrost thawing, which threatens local infrastructure. Erik Grafe, an attorney with Earthjustice, cautioned against further oil and gas development in the Arctic, stating that it contradicts the urgent need for a transition to a green economy aimed at tackling the climate crisis.
