Today, the Department of the Interior released an environmental impact statement on its plan to hold a lease sale for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The planned sale will target the coastal plain, the biological heart of the Arctic Refuge, home to lands and wildlife vital for the subsistence way of life of the Gwich’in Nation.
Washington, DC -- A bill introduced in the Senate today would establish the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness area, permanently protecting it from destructive oil and gas exploration. The Arctic Refuge Protection Act was introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA); Sen. Tom Udall (NM); Sen. Michael Bennet (CO); Sen. Ed Markey (MA); Sen. Charles Schumer (NY); and Sen.
A crowd of local activists, joined by representatives from the Gwich’in Steering Committee, Stand.earth, and the Sierra Club, gathered last night outside an oil and gas industry gathering in San Diego to express opposition to drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Washington, DC -- Joe Balash, former assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals, is reportedly joining a foreign oil company that stands to benefit from Balash’s push to open the Arctic Refuge for drilling. During his time at Interior, Balash was a main driver of the Trump administration’s rushed attempt to sell off the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to fossil fuel companies.
Last night, it was reported that Joe Balash, assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals and driver of the Trump administration’s rushed attempt to sell off the Arctic Refuge for drilling, will leave his job at the end of the month.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has joined the growing list of multinational financial institutions that have drawn a hard line against financing for oil and gas drilling or exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
In a new policy statement released today, Morgan Stanley made minor updates to its criteria for financing fossil fuel projects but failed to rule out funding for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Today, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) released an updated Environmental, Social and Ethical (ESE) risk management framework that rules out financing for oil and gas drilling or exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
As major financial institutions and oil companies gathered over the last six weeks for their annual general meetings, they faced questions and protests from shareholders and activists urging them not to engage in or give financial support for drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. According to recent comments by Department of the Interior official Joe Balash, the Trump administration aims to hold the first lease sale in the coastal plain before the end of this year.
As Chevron executives and shareholders gather for the company’s annual general meeting, activists plan to rally outside to call on Chevron to pledge not to drill in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Aberdeen, Scotland -- At BP’s annual meeting this morning, shareholders passed a resolution calling for the company to lay out a business strategy consistent with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The resolution was supported by BP’s board and passed with 99% of the vote. A second resolution that would have required the company to set targets for reducing emissions from the use of the oil and gas it produces and sells did not pass.
Activists rallied this afternoon outside BP’s US headquarters to call on the oil company to pledge not to drill in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The rally took place as the company prepares to face shareholders at its annual meeting in Scotland and in the wake of new reporting on BP’s lobbying efforts to see the delicate area opened to destructive drilling.