Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Controversial oil drilling project on Alaska's North Slope approved

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Mar 2023 19:34
3 Min Read

The Biden administration approves the Willow Project despite environmentalists' concerns.

  • x
  • The sun sets behind an oil drilling rig in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on March 17, 2011. (Reuters)
    The sun sets behind an oil drilling rig in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, on March 17, 2011. (Reuters)

The Biden administration approved a controversial oil drilling project on Alaska's North Slope on Monday while ignoring environmentalists' concerns.

The Interior Department gave the US energy giant ConocoPhillips the green light to drill for oil at three sites in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska's pristine western Arctic.

During the 2020 elections, Joe Biden vowed that he will not approve any new leases for oil and gas projects on federal lands, placing his administration under pressure due to environmental groups opposing the so-called Willow Project. 

Alaska lawmakers strongly promoted the approval of the project, as it will secure several thousand jobs and would be a contributor to US energy independence which produces 180,000 barrels of oil daily.

However, environmental groups expressed their disappointment with the Interior Department's move.

Read more: "Irreversible damages" caused by US' emissions of greenhouse gases

"We are too late in the climate crisis to approve massive oil and gas projects that directly undermine the new clean economy that the Biden administration committed to advancing," said Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen.

Related News

Former Biden spox. Matthew Miller says 'Israel' committed war crimes

FBI reopens investigations from Biden era, including WH cocaine file

"We know President Biden understands the existential threat of climate, but he is approving a project that derails his own climate goals." 

Environmental concerns

Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, pointed out the harmful effects of Biden's decision.

"Willow will be one of the largest oil and gas operations on federal public lands in the country, and the carbon pollution it will spew into the air will have devastating effects for our communities, wildlife, and the climate," Jealous said, adding that they will suffer the outcomes for decades to come.

Even though at the end of his term, former President Trump approved the Willow Project, it was blocked by a judge for further review. 

In an environmental impact analysis in February, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the three drilling sites.

Temperatures in Alaska have been increasing faster than in other regions on the planet; an oil extraction project will make matter worse as the Willow Project will add more than 25 million metric tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere for the next 30 years, expressed the Sierra Club.

Read more: WH: Climate change could cost US $2 trillion a year

As Greenpeace called it a "carbon bomb", a petition on change.org was formed to halt the project which now has more than three million signatures. A #StopWillow campaign on TikTok also drew tens of millions of views.

  • Biden administration
  • greenpeace
  • Joe Biden
  • Alaska

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS