Oil and gas drilling to go ahead in Arctic Wildlife Refuge

(FILE) - A polar bear swims in the water off a barrier island in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge USA, 11 September 2017 Source: EPA. Donald Trump’s administration has finalised a plan to allow oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) putting it on track to issue decades-long leases in the pristine wilderness area before a potential change in US leadership. The energy industry and Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy said opening ANWR to drilling would create jobs and boost the state’s economy, which is reliant on oil production. Democrats and green groups, meanwhile, criticised the move, saying it would harm the Arctic’s unique ecosystem and native people.