Biden accused of 'bending the knee' to oil dictatorships as he flip-flops on climate policy
Joe Biden flip flops on climate policy as he blocks new licenses but goes ahead with major drilling plan
Reuters
Joe Biden has moved to block a number of major oil drilling operations in the Alaskan wilderness in a bid to improve the ongoing climate crisis.
The White House cancelled all remaining oil and gas leases issued in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge which were brought into effect under former president Donald Trump after seven were previously suspended in 2021.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has proposed new legislation that would prevent new oil or gas leasing across more than 40 per cent of the National Petroleum Reserve.
The proposed legislation would prevent drilling on a total area extending some 10.6 million acres out of the 23 million acre managed area.
Alaskan wilderness
Reuters
“As the climate crisis warms the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the world,” Biden said in a statement earlier this week.
“We have a responsibility to protect this treasured region for all ages.”
Despite pressure from the Republican party calling for an increase in energy production, the Biden administration has struck a fine balance on oil drilling.
Democrats warned that they want to provide a strong energy policy while also balancing the effects of climate change, overseas threats and high prices.
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The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to many species such as polar bears
Reuters
With the 2024 US election looming, Republican candidates have made clear their position on energy production.
“This isn’t that complicated, guys, unlock American energy, drill, frack, burn coal and embrace nuclear,” said entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he would “open up all energy production”.
Despite Biden’s crackdown on existing licences and the proposed plan by Haaland, the president approved the Willow oil drilling project within the National Petroleum Reserve earlier this year.
The approval of the project was met with widespread objections by both Democrats and environmentalists.
The $7billion (£5.61billion) project has been forecast to produce as many as 180,000 barrels of oil per day.
“[Biden administration officials] love to talk about racial equity, racial justice, environmental justice, taking care of people of colour, but one big exception — the Indigenous people of Alaska,” Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan told reporters outside the Capitol.
“They screw ‘em every time.”
Sullivan posted on social media just hours ago: "We need energy.
"Since President Biden keeps blocking responsible development in America, he instead goes on bended knee to Saudi Arabia, the dictators in Venezuela, and other places with the worst environmental standards on the planet."