In a major push to leave his mark on climate change and conservation, President Joe Biden is set to announce a decision that will block future oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of federal waters. To put that into perspective, that’s nearly a quarter of the total land area of the entire United States! This bold move is a clear message from Biden, as he works to secure his legacy on climate protection during his final weeks in office.
This action will affect vast areas of our oceans, including the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska. For years, the oil and gas industry has set its sights on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and this decision could shake up those plans.
While this move has caused quite a stir, it may have a big impact in the Gulf of Mexico, a key player in U.S. oil production. The Gulf alone makes up about 14% of the country’s crude oil output. However, the announcement will likely have little impact on drilling along the stretch of the Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida, where there is little to no interest from the industry.
Why is this so important?
The Northern Bering Sea in Alaska is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including whales, walruses, and seals. Many Alaska Native communities rely on these species for hunting, making conservation efforts in this area crucial. This announcement builds on former President Obama’s executive orders to protect marine habitats, with Biden looking to continue this commitment to safeguarding our oceans and wildlife.
What are environmentalists saying?
Environmentalists are applauding this decision, seeing it as a victory for both coastal communities and marine life. Joseph Gordon, a climate and energy campaign director for Oceana, shared his excitement, saying, “No one wants an oil spill off their coast, and our hope is that this can be a bipartisan historic moment where areas are set aside for future generations.”
The pushback from the oil industry
The oil and gas industry isn’t thrilled about the decision, with some critics arguing that it could prevent future energy production from U.S. waters. Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, expressed concerns that such decisions may reduce the U.S. government’s ability to respond to sudden global energy shifts, like the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
What’s next for this decision?
Biden’s plan is to use a law called the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw federal waters from future leasing. But here’s where it gets interesting – a 2019 federal court decision ruled that such withdrawals can’t be undone without approval from Congress, meaning this battle could carry on for months.
And, of course, not everyone is on board with Biden’s decision. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has already stated that he will push to overturn the decision using the Congressional Review Act, which could challenge Biden’s executive action.
Biden’s final conservation push
Biden isn’t stopping here. In his last days in office, he’s been finalizing a number of conservation policies, including proposed restrictions on energy development in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains. This follows his upcoming visit to California, where he will designate new national monuments to protect sacred lands for Native American tribes.
It’s clear that President Biden is making a strong push for conservation and climate action as part of his legacy, but whether this decision stands will be a key moment in the ongoing debate about energy and environmental protection in America.
