Biden faces pressure to increase Arctic conservation efforts

Over 50 Democratic lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to expand protections in the Arctic, citing growing climate concerns and threats from development.

Zack Budryk reports for The Hill.

In short:

• Led by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Jared Huffman, the group called on the Interior Department to expand federal protections for Arctic Special Areas.
• The Interior Department is reviewing whether to increase protections across 23 million acres, having already safeguarded 13 million acres in April.
• Lawmakers stress that climate change and development are severely impacting wildlife and indigenous subsistence areas in the Arctic.

Key quote:

“This opportunity to take a renewed look at needed protections is especially timely, as the effects of climate change in the Arctic — from declining sea ice, permafrost thaw, and record temperatures — are felt more acutely than ever before and new extractive development encroaches more and more into important habitat and subsistence areas.”

— letter from more than 50 congressional Democrats

Why this matters:

Rapid Arctic warming and increased industrial activities threaten fragile ecosystems and indigenous communities. Additional protections could prevent further damage, particularly as critical wildlife and plant habitats shrink.