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The Willow project, which aims to drill oil within Alaska, was recently approved by President Biden. However, the bill has sparked numerous protests from climate activists who oppose the Willow project due to its negative impact on the environment. Environment America states that “The Willow Project would extract 500 million barrels of petroleum and release the annual emissions equivalent of 76 new coal-fired power plants operating in a single year.”
This affects many native communities who are already dealing with logging and forced displacement from their homes in several places. It is a significant issue because many native people cannot easily relocate or adapt to a new way of life. Moreover, with the housing crisis affecting many countries, it is even harder for them to afford to move to a new place. Scientific American quotes “Indigenous groups, called on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska to scrap the approval because the federal government failed to consider the project’s indirect and direct climate risks, as well as harm to wildlife such as denning polar bears and subsistence hunting.”
Even if the project was not approved, there are still animals that are on the brink of extinction due to various factors, including drilling for fossil fuels and oil. Despite the need for these resources by economies and people, there is a growing risk associated with their sourcing, even with the strong alternatives that have been proposed. WWF mentions that “Increased shipping means more noise that can mask communications for many species” This is because oil spills cause a lot of problems, not only by diminishing wildlife diversity within the sea, but also because many fishermen rely on the fish for resources. With more and more oil spills, this could soon impact the quality of water and fish that everyday people depend on.
This does not align with Biden’s climate agenda that he set at the beginning of his campaign, and could set him back in many ways in achieving net-zero by 2050. This would make it more likely for Biden to approve green energy efforts instead of building more oil infrastructure. Those who support the Willow project argue that it could create more jobs within Alaska. However, this goes against the fact that more jobs may not matter if Alaska itself is in danger due to global warming caused by the project. As a result, it could set back the efforts that Biden has made to transition America to a greener economy.
In the days leading up to the signing of the Willow project, activists started campaigning strongly online, especially on platforms like TikTok, to stop Biden from signing the project. It was interesting to watch because the majority of the people campaigning against the project were from the younger generation. This is noteworthy because the Gen Z generation is most likely to be impacted by climate change and its effects, including those resulting from oil drilling. Not only does this mean that the more serious aspects of climate change could impact Gen Z, but it also makes current-day policies much more potent to fight for the younger generation.
The approval of the Willow Project demonstrates to Gen Z that many people within politics, whether Republican or Democrat, prioritize siding with larger businesses over listening to the voices of the next generation. This makes it harder for the younger generation and puts the future into question for many young people, particularly those living closer to the coast which is predicted to flood in the worst-case scenario of global warming. National Geographic states that “Those new statistics, compiled in the first comprehensive mapping of the entire coastline of the Lower 48 states, paint a troubling picture, especially for the East and Gulf coasts.”
Business Insider has quoted “Young voters played a key role in Biden’s 2020 victory, with those aged 18 to 24 at the time voting for him more than any other age group.” This was also tied to Biden’s promise to protect the environment, which was one of the many reasons why he was able to get into office. It is very unusual that now-President Biden would go against the wishes of young people by approving a project that goes against the promises made to a large demographic of voters. This could cause problems for him since there will be the 2024 elections, where he will have to prove his support for this bill to the young people who were valiantly against it.
If you live in America, you can call your representatives and raise your voice against the signing of this bill. Even though the bill has already been approved, if many people bring a louder voice to this issue, it may mean that Biden will have to reconsider or be pushed to do so. For those outside the USA, spreading awareness of this issue and contacting advocacy groups on behalf of people within the USA can be helpful. The internet is a powerful tool that has made activism easier for people outside of the USA. It’s important to use this tool for good and to spread the news about this issue.
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