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The devastating BP spill off the Gulf of Mexico has awakened our collective consciousness to the serious risks of offshore drilling. Images of oil soaked wetlands, dying birds and animals and firsthand accounts of jobs and livelihoods lost are just the start of what will be long-lasting impacts of this environmental catastrophe.
With the discovery of 90 billion barrels of oil and 1,670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas under melting ice, the Arctic is increasingly being viewed as a final frontier for fossil fuel development. More than 80 per cent of the oil and gas is found offshore.
Here are 5 reasons to support a moratorium on oil and gas developments in the Arctic:
As seen with BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico, there is no surefire way to guarantee against a massive oil spill.
A spill will devastate the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Further Arctic oil and gas development and a spill stands to have devastating impacts on local Indigenous Peoples including on food security and cultural needs.
Melting ice in the Arctic shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity for Big Oil to increase their profits with new projects – it is a serious warming signal of the climate crisis.
A moratorium is a logical first step in a just transition to sustainable jobs, energy and an improved environment for everyone.
International statement against Arctic offshore drilling
The Council of Canadians along with Friends of the Earth, Norway, Greenpeace-Canada, Indigenous Environmental Network, REDOIL Network and others are sponsoring an international statement against Arctic offshore drilling. Read more »
Add your voice to the demand to stop Arctic offshore drilling by signing the statement here:
The True Cost of Chevron: An Alternative Annual Report
The Council of Canadians is one of several sponsors of a newly released alternative report on Chevron. This BigOil player continues its long history of ravaging natural environments, violating human rights, ignoring the longstanding decisions of Indigenous communities, destroying traditional livelihoods, and converting its dollars into unjust political influence in the United States and around the world. Chevron has begun to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Yukon. As highlighted in the Council of Canadians contribution to the report, offshore drilling in the Arctic stands to have devastating impacts on the environment and coastal communities, and in the face of a climate crisis, is a signal of the wrong direction – we need to leave it in the ground.
Arctic Coastal States told to Leave it in the Ground
In the lead up to the 7th Arctic Council meeting in Nuuk, Greenland May 12, the Council of Canadians coordinated an open letter sent by organizations in six Arctic Coastal states – Canada, U.S., Russia, Greenland, Denmark and Norway – demanding a moratorium on offshore drilling in the Arctic.
With the Arctic increasingly being seen as a final frontier for fossil fuel development, the open letter affirms international unity around concerns with, and opposition to the pursuit of offshore drilling. The letter, received by Foreign Ministers, encourages the Arctic Council to advise against offshore drilling and engage in a discussion exploring alternative, viable opportunities for sustainable economic development. It highlights the unacceptable risks of offshore drilling in Arctic waters and the need for political leaders to start choosing to leave fossil fuels ‘in the ground’ in the face of a climate crisis.
You can read the open letter here.
You can read the press release here.
The signing organizations are: Avataq, Greenland, Friends of the Earth Denmark, Greenpeace Denmark, Friends of the Earth Norway, Greenpeace Norway, Kola Environmental Center, Russia,
Council of Canadians, Canada, Greenpeace, Canada, Indigenous Environmental Network, Canada, Yukon Conservation Society, Canada, Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, U.S., Friends of the Earth U.S., Global Exchange, U.S., Indigenous Environmental Network, U.S., Pacific Environment, U.S., REDOIL Network, U.S.
BLOG POSTS: Click here for arctic blog posts by Andrea Harden-Donahue, energy and climate justice campaigner, and here for posts by Brent Patterson, Director of Campaigns and Communications.
VIDEO:
May 11, 2011, The Council of Canadians and the Indigenous Environmental Network gathered outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa with a dramatic visual challenge to offshore drilling in the Arctic.
Energy Blog: For ongoing information and updates about the Council of Canadians’ energy campaign visit our new energy blog at www.canadians.org/energyblog. Blogged by Andrea Harden-Donahue, the Council of Canadians' energy campaigner.
Call 1-800-387-7177, or email inquiries@canadians.org, for more information. Click here to become a member of the Council of Canadians.
The Council of Canadians is one of several sponsors of a newly released alternative report on Chevron. This BigOil player continues its long history of ravaging natural environments, violating human rights, ignoring the longstanding decisions of Indigenous communities, destroying traditional livelihoods, and converting its dollars into unjust political influence in the United States and around the world. Chevron has begun to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Yukon. As highlighted in the Council of Canadians contribution to the report, offshore drilling in the Arctic stands to have devastating impacts on the environment and coastal communities, and in the face of a climate crisis, is a signal of the wrong direction – we need to leave it in the ground.
