In response to the US Department of Interior’s approval of Shell Oil’s Chukchi Sea drilling lease, Greenpeace Arctic campaigner Ian Duff said:
“It’s an indefensible decision. The Arctic is melting rapidly because of climate change. But instead of seeing it as a warning, Shell sees profit. It wants to drill for more of the stuff that caused the melting in the first place. And all the evidence shows Shell can’t drill safely in the Arctic. The extreme conditions means it’s when, not if, a spill will happen.
“This decision puts Obama in an untenable position. Obama’s got to show leadership on climate in the run up to Paris, but this is a massive blow to US credibility. The Arctic has become the iconic battleground for the global climate movement, so we can expect to see a huge reaction against this in the US and across the globe.”
Climate change is melting the Arctic sea ice at an alarming rate, and right now the Arctic is experiencing the lowest sea ice maximum ever recorded.
The extreme Arctic conditions, including giant floating ice-bergs and stormy seas, make offshore drilling extremely risky. The US administration itself acknowledged a 75% chance of a large oil spill over the lifetime of the wells. And scientists say that in the Arctic, an oil spill would be impossible to clean up meaning devastation for the Arctic’s unique wildlife.
Shell’s past attempts to drill in the Arctic have been plagued with multiple operational failings culminating in the running aground of its drilling rig, the Kulluk. Shell will return to the remote Chukchi Sea with the same contractor, Noble Drilling, which pled guilty to eight felonies following their last Arctic venture.
