Washington D.C. — In response to the Department of the Interior’s actions to address future protections for the communities of the Arctic and our climate, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and The Alaska Center issued the following statements:

“We applaud President Biden and Secretary Haaland for these significant steps to protect Arctic communities and our climate,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs. “We’re thrilled that the cancellation of the illegally held oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge will restore lands sacred to the Gwich’in and vital to the health of the Arctic ecosystem. We also applaud the Biden-Harris administration for prioritizing the Arctic as part of their conservation legacy by strengthening protections for 13 million acres in the Western Arctic and addressing Trump’s illegal leasing program in the Arctic Refuge. These proposed protections are vitally important for this unique and sacred landscape, and we are eager to work with the Biden-Harris administration to build on today’s announcements and permanently protect the Arctic region.”

“Alaskan communities are at the frontlines of the climate crisis,” said The Alaska Center Co-Executive Director, Chantal de Alcuaz. “It affects all aspects of our lives, from the health of our communities to the health of our economy. The communities of the Arctic have long fought for a voice in the protection of their lands, and this decision by President Biden and Secretary Haaland is a decisive step in the right direction to listen to the needs and the wisdom of those communities. At The Alaska Center, we believe in the sacredness of these lands and the importance of bringing these communities to the decision-making table. We are grateful that leadership is ready to take the necessary steps to confront the climate crisis and help move our state towards a just transition that works with and for Alaskans.”

###