On September 6, the White House announced that the Biden Administration canceled existing oil and gas leases on public lands in the Arctic Refuge. Additionally, the Administration announced protections for 13 million acres of the Western Arctic.
In response, YECA National Organizer and Spokesperson Tori Goebel released the following statement:
YECA is deeply grateful for the cancellation of the dangerous oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge. This is a significant victory for our climate, God’s creation, and the Gwich’in people who have long stewarded the land and defended this sacred space from exploitation, extraction, and irreparable damage.
This cancellation is a really hopeful step in the right direction. It is time to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in a healthier future, and we cannot do that while creating new fossil fuel projects. This is why YECA has long opposed oil and gas development on public lands, especially in the Arctic Refuge.
We thank President Biden and Secretary of the Interior Haaland for this decision and look forward to continuing the effort to permanently protect the Arctic, and all ecosystems and communities, from reckless oil and gas development.
