Scientists urge Obama to drop Arctic from plans for offshore drilling – CBC

Jun 15, 2016

2 sales in Arctic waters in works: Beaufort Sea in 2020, and Chukchi Sea in 2022

Nearly 400 scientists have signed a letter urging President Obama to eliminate the possibility of Arctic offshore drilling in the near future, by taking the Arctic Ocean out of the next federal offshore lease sale plan.

The scientists include Jane Lubchenco, Obama’s former administrator of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, now a researcher and teacher at Oregon State University.

“I’ve witnessed some of the unprecedented changes underway in the Arctic,” Lubchenco said in a prepared statement. “Conserving important marine areas is an essential step in sustaining the region’s resilience.”

The 388 signees include scientists from 13 countries and 25 current or emeritus professors at the University of Alaska.

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/scientists-drop-arctic-offshore-drilling-obama-1.3636254