Belize has passed legislation to put an end to all oil activity in its waters to protect the largest barrier reef in the Northern hemisphere and boost sustainable tourism.
US judge reverses Trump’s order, reinstating Obama’s ban on Arctic drilling
The United States will have to obey restrictions and won’t be able to expand oil exploration in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, against President Trump’s will.
The Arctic region is extremely sought after by oil companies, in fact it’s estimated that at least 13 per cent of unexplored crude reserves are found here. The extraction of hydrocarbons in such a delicate ecosystem, dramatically imperilled by climate change, would have a devastating impact. Extraction activities would increase greenhouse gas emissions and threaten endangered species such as the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).
Potential oil spills would contaminate its waters, damaging local populations that rely on them as well as wildlife. In order to preserve the fragile Arctic ecosystem, former US president Barack Obama halted drilling activities in 2015, but in 2017 current president Donald Trump restored oil explorations in Alaska, contradicting the decision taken by his predecessor. Nevertheless, on the 31st of March this year, Sharon Gleason, United States Judge for the District of Alaska, overturned the decision once more, repealing Trump’s executive order by reintroducing the restrictions put in place by Obama.
A ruling in favour of the Arctic
The judge halted the plan to expand offshore drilling and reinstated the ban in vast areas of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, stating that the current president had overstepped his authority when he cancelled the restrictions of perforation. Judge Gleason explained that federal law doesn’t allow presidents to remove a previously instated ban, only Congress has the power to do so.
Read more:
- US and Canada make historic move to ban Arctic drilling, indefinitely
- Obama bans oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean
- The United States blocks oil drilling in the Arctic
- Shell abandons Arctic oil drilling
- Hundreds of kayaks row against Shell in Seattle
Oil companies protest
A note published by the American Petroleum Institute voicing its opposition to the ruling reads: “In addition to bringing supplies of affordable energy to consumers for decades to come, developing our abundant offshore resources can provide billions in government revenue, create thousands of jobs and will also strengthen our national security”. The government, on its part, hasn’t commented on the decision yet.
Environmentalists celebrate
The sentiment of the environmental groups who had filed suit against the Trump administration in relation to Artic drilling is obviously quite different. “The judge’s ruling today shows that the president can’t just trample on the Constitution to do the bidding of his cronies in the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our oceans, wildlife, and climate”, said Erik Grafe, lawyer working with the NGO Earthjustice who represented the activist groups during the legal battle.
A paradise that must be protected
After instituting safeguards for Arctic fauna and its inhabitants in 2015, the following year Obama banned oil exploration in an area of 15,377 square kilometres situated in the south-eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean, to preserve habitats full of life, and protect beaches and coastal economies.
Quest'opera è distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale.
These are the top news stories of 2017 and the people who have most left a mark on a year that has been intense yet also rewarding from the point of view of social and environmental sustainability.
The fourth edition of the Greening the Islands International Conference will be held on the Italian island of Favignana on 3 and 4 November. The protagonists are the world’s small islands and the green economy.
The mayors of 12 cities have signed the C40 fossil-fuel-free streets declaration, pledging to fight air pollution, improve the quality of life for all citizens, and help tackle climate change.
The Canadian oil and gas company Pacific E&P has decided to halt its extractive activities in the Peruvian Amazon. A victory for the native Matsés people.
The mayors of four megacities have their say about the future in a letter that perfectly summarises how cities can play a crucial role in fighting climate change and creating a greener world.
People living near major roads and busy traffic are more at risk of developing dementia, according to a report analysing more than 6 million people.
Some of the most significant news stories of the year. From the Paris Agreement to the Colombian peace deal, here’s our 2016 in review: the last 12 months seen through the lens of sustainability.
Activists call on London mayor Sadiq Khan to ban diesel vehicles from the capital by 2025, amongst mounting evidence that they’re a serious health risk.