The state is suffering significant climate impacts from rising seas forcing the relocation of remote villages.
Governor Bill Walker says that coping with these changes is hugely expensive.
He wants to “urgently” drill in the protected lands of the Arctic National Wilderness Refuge to fund them.
“We are in a significant fiscal challenge. We have villages that are washing away because of changes in the climate,” Governor Walker said.
Asked if extra drilling was needed to help pay for these impacts.
“Absolutely, in a responsible way as we have in the past.”
Environmentalists are resolutely opposed to the idea of drilling in this part of the state. They say that the Governor’s idea about drilling to pay for climate change is a “simplistic solution”.
See Full Story at BBC News
