US unveils plan for achieving its Arctic vision of more conservation, less drilling

The Biden administration Oct. 23 released its plan for implementing a 10-year strategy for the Arctic region that puts a heavy focus on mitigating climate impacts and bolstering conservation, with an eye on reducing the region's reliance on the oil and gas sector.

Among the steps laid out, of which there were over 30 objectives and 200 actions for federal agencies to undertake, are efforts to reduce emissions, shore up capabilities for preventing and responding to oil spills, and expand climate change research to inform policy decisions.

The plan builds on an ambitious climate and conservation agenda spearheaded by President Joe Biden. It "serves as a blueprint for an approach to realizing the vision set out in the [National Strategy for the Arctic Region] and ensures continued collaboration with the wide array of stakeholders with interests in the Arctic," a White House statement said.

The NSAR, issued in October 2022, noted that the Arctic Ocean could see ice-free summers as soon as 2030, flooding and wildfires were increasing in frequency, and geopolitical tensions, namely with Russia, were on the rise.

"The US must therefore prepare for and shape this transformation by taking action now to manage these challenges and pursue new opportunities," the document said.

International initiatives

The implementation plan tasks the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and State Department as the lead agencies responsible for working with the intergovernmental Arctic Council to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and black carbon through existing and new international initiatives.

The Arctic Council consists of the US, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden.

The shipping industry's net-zero by 2050 goal established by the International Maritime Organization will provide the backbone for this work in the Arctic, "where a top priority, from a climate perspective, is reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, specifically black carbon and methane, which can accelerate Arctic warming over short time frames," according to the plan.

Specific actions include collaborating with the council and indigenous peoples to expand clean energy and climate resilient demonstration projects in Arctic communities; evaluating the need for a multilateral Emissions Control Area for the North American Arctic and Arctic-specific green shipping corridors; increasing conservation and protection of key habitats that store carbon; and participating in at least three case studies on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from terrestrial and marine sources by 2025.

Alternative industries

The plan puts the Interior Department and US Geological Survey at the helm of "exploring the potential for sustainable and responsible critical mineral production in Alaska while adhering to the highest environmental ... standards."

It calls for extending funding, mapping and data collection agreements as well as greater analysis to map and assess Alaska's mineral resources that are in the ground and in mine waste.

"US government agencies will expand support for sustainable development of renewable energy, critical minerals production, tourism and knowledge economy sectors in Alaska with the aim of creating sustainable growth and well-paying jobs in Alaska and responsibly developing alternative industries in Alaska to support a just energy transition, while protecting biodiversity and promoting co-ocean use," the plan said.

Oil, gas leasing restrictions

The new implementation plan applauds steps already taken this year to bar future oil and gas leasing of federal waters in the Arctic Ocean as such action will help "to preserve essential habitats, halt biodiversity loss and manage natural resources using an ecosystems-based approach" -- one of the plan's objectives.

The Biden administration in September canceled the last remaining oil and gas lease sales within the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Geologists feel the region has potential for major oil and gas discoveries, but conservation groups have fought fiercely to keep the refuge closed, and the oil industry has seemed largely ambivalent to the refuge.

The administration has also instituted new protections that restrict oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, and in September proposed barring any new leasing on another 10.6 million acres, more than 40% of the NPR-A.

The NSAR implementation plan further calls for "work to mitigate the environmental and subsistence impacts of existing exploration and development activities."

Another objective seeks to improve oil spill response.

The plan carves out a list of next steps for achieving this objective, including development of a training course that better prepares responders for working in cold and ice-covered environments; evaluation of current capabilities and future needs with respect to equipment and expertise; and leveraging interagency and international partners to research and develop new tools and techniques to better support spill response and waste management efforts.

The implementation plan, however, is beholden to the budget process. The extent to which agencies are ultimately able to carry out the activities outlined in the plan will come down to the availability of appropriated funds.