Willow Project
In March, the United States approved a major oil drilling project, known as the Willow Project in Alaska, which is anticipated to produce approximately 160,000 barrels of oil per day for the next three decades. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has approved the proposal for up to 199 wells across three drilling locations. The construction of the project could generate thousands of employment and billions of dollars in revenue for the nation.
However, despite appearances, the project is not entirely risk-free and beneficial in every way. The outcome of this project is expected to produce 260 million tons of carbon dioxide, the annual emission output of 66 coal-fired power plants in the United States. This project undoubtedly poses a significant challenge to the fight against climate change.
Since the project is based only 30 kilometers from the Arctic Ocean, it will likely produce an oil film effect. This effect will lead to the destruction of coastal rest areas, scenic areas, and other coastal environments near the coast, as well as the deterioration of the ecosphere and the death of a large number of marine organisms. In addition, the location of the project makes it more likely that an oil spill will occur.
As the name suggests, the oil film effect is a layer of plastic film-like oil attached to the sea surface, separating seawater from the air, resulting in the air below being unable to evaporate and, therefore, the air above the contaminated area being dry. Consequently, the seawater cannot evaporate, and the heat from underwater cannot be transferred, increasing seawater and sea surface temperatures.
Not only harming the environment and killing a massive number of wild animals, but it also simultaneously affects the local groups that live in that region. To stop the continued destruction of this land and harming more innocent animals, the Local environmental and aboriginal groups have launched a lawsuit to prevent the irreparable damage this project could cause to the environment and climate. Over 5 million people have signed an online petition calling the U.S. government to stop willow.
The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on the planet at an unstoppable rate, bringing inevitable harm. The Willow project has become a betrayal of humanity's nurturing gift to the earth. The planet needs us, and we must respond.
在今年三月，美国批准了阿拉斯加的大型石油钻探项目，这个项目被称之为Willow project，据统计，在未来三十年里，这个项目每天能生产大概160，000桶石油。美国土地管理局对该项目的批准总共有三个钻探地点，包括多达199口井。该项目在建设期间可以创造上千个工作岗位，并为国家打来高达数十亿美元的收入。
然而这个项目并不像表面上听起来百利而无一害。
这个项目所生产的石油将产生2.6亿吨二氧化碳，相当于66个美国燃煤电厂的年产量。这个项目无疑是对全球气候变暖的一个极大威胁。
此外，由于它的开采位置距离北冰洋只有30公里，该项目还很有可能会产生油膜效应，这会导致海岸附近的休养地，风景区等沿海环境被破坏，生态环境圈恶化，以及大量的海洋生物死亡。
正如这个名字所说的那样，油膜效应是指一层类似塑料薄膜一样的油附在海面上，把海水和空气隔开，导致下面的空气无法蒸发，因此被污染区的上方空气干燥。而且由于海水无法蒸发，水下的热量就无法转移，从而导致海水温度和海面气温的上升。
当地的环保团体和原住民团体已经发起了诉讼，试图阻止这项工程可能会对环境和气候所带来的无法弥补的伤害。超过500万人在网上签署了请愿书，呼吁美国政府阻止willow的发生。
北极变暖的速度以无法阻止的速度超过了地球上的任何地方，willow project成为了人类对地球孕育之恩的背叛之行。
Citations:
Willow Project: Could two lawsuits block the oil project in Alaska? (2023, March 14). Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/03/14/biden-administration-approves-alaskas-willow-oil-project-sparking-anger-from-environmental