Oil & Gas Development
The warming Arctic holds an estimated 25 per cent of the earth’s known remaining petroleum reserves and commercial activity is expected to climb as the area becomes more accessible and oil prices spike.
As activity in frontier areas using unproven technology ramps up, so does the environmental risk – particularly as there are no known solutions to cleaning up oil in ice-covered waters, especially in extreme weather and darkness. WWF is working to ensure that any Arctic oil and gas development happens in the safest way possible.
At the 2011-12 National Energy board Arctic Offshore Drilling Review, WWF and legal counsel Ecojustice, made substantive submissions that called for the protection of highly sensitive areas and the implementation of a Same Season Relief Well Policy. WWF also provided key insights into the challenges of cleaning up an Arctic oil spill, which our analysis found would not be possible 44 to 84 per cent of the short Arctic drilling season.
To achieve its goals, WWF works with key government, indigenous and industry players. We place a high value on partnerships to resolve these complex issues, to build momentum and support as we together create the conditions for responsible industrial practice.
As activity in frontier areas using unproven technology ramps up, so does the environmental risk – particularly as there are no known solutions to cleaning up oil in ice-covered waters, especially in extreme weather and darkness. WWF is working to ensure that any Arctic oil and gas development happens in the safest way possible.
At the 2011-12 National Energy board Arctic Offshore Drilling Review, WWF and legal counsel Ecojustice, made substantive submissions that called for the protection of highly sensitive areas and the implementation of a Same Season Relief Well Policy. WWF also provided key insights into the challenges of cleaning up an Arctic oil spill, which our analysis found would not be possible 44 to 84 per cent of the short Arctic drilling season.
To achieve its goals, WWF works with key government, indigenous and industry players. We place a high value on partnerships to resolve these complex issues, to build momentum and support as we together create the conditions for responsible industrial practice.
Reports
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Presentation to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources
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WWF-Canada – Submission to NEB Review (April 2011)
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WWF-Canada presentation to NEB Roundtable in Inuvik (September 2011)
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WWF-Canada – Letter of Comment regarding SL Ross Spill Response Gap Study for the Canadian Beaufort Sea and the Canadian Davis Straight
Arctic Blog Posts
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The frozen ocean: Oceans Day dispatch from the Arctic
In my visits to communities along the Beaufort Sea in Canada’s Western Arctic, I have heard many people describe the value that they ...
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Managing change in the Arctic for people and for nature
Working towards a common goal – an Arctic that can be used for generations to come – at the Last Ice Area Workshop.The post Managing ...
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Working together for a better Arctic future
Experts and decision-makers of all kinds come together at the Last Ice Area Workshop in Iqaluit.The post Working together for a better ...
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