Skip to content

Conservation

Environmentalists believe sanctuary failing to protect polar bears

by Lucy Brake 17 Jan 2011
Environmentalists believe sanctuary failing to protect polar bears

The Centre for Biological Diversity believes that the US Interior Department has allowed harmful oil and gas developments to go ahead and as a result has significantly damaged the polar bear habitat in Alaska.

A sanctuary covering more than 480,000 square kilometres around the Chukchi and Beaufort seas in Alaska was designated to specifically protect an important habitat reserve for the polar bears. In a move that reaffirms plans created during Bush's presidency, the Interior Department are seriously weighting up a proposal by Shell Oil to drill in this sanctuary.

"Unfortunately, Interior seems profoundly confused about whether to actually protect polar bear critical habitat or sacrifice it to oil companies," said Rebecca Noblin, attorney for the Centre for Biological Diversity.

Polar bears rely on the sea ice for their very survival. With the majority of climate modellers and forecasters predicting that the loss of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean continuing and the possibility that the Arctic Ocean might even be ice free in summer by 2030 or possibly even sooner, the future does not look bright for the polar bears.

The Centre for Biological Diversity is particularly concerned that the actions the US Government are considering approving will damage and destroy the polar bears critical habitat. Noblin believes that the daily activities required by the offshore oil industry, such as movement of vehicles and vessels, seismic testing and drilling will all contribute to the destruction of this important environment. She is also concerned that a major oil spill in this unique environment would be catastrophic.

The oil industry provides over 90 per cent of the general revenue for the state of Alaska. This means there is significant pressure on the need to approve and allow new oil projects and developments. As the onshore oil reserves in Alaska diminish, the state is looking out to sea for future revenues and keeping the trans-Alaska pipeline full of oil. The state is claiming that the models on climate change are not reliable and that the polar bear populations are not at threat.

Noblin is in no doubt that the latest oil development proposal in Alaska has major implications for the polar bears: "Given that it is impossible to clean up an oil spill in the icy waters of the Arctic, if Secretary Salazar ultimately approves drilling in polar bear critical habitat he will have demonstrated that all his promises of reform following the Gulf disaster ultimately amount to nothing”.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me