Obama heads north to Alaska, where drilling decision looms large
Source: Reuters
US | Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:53am EDT
Obama heads north to Alaska, where drilling decision looms large
WASHINGTON | BY ROBERTA RAMPTON
President Barack Obama on Saturday defended his decision to allow Royal Dutch Shell to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean under what he said were rigorous standards, fending off criticism by environmental groups.
His message comes on the eve of a three-day tour of Alaska aimed at drawing attention to powerful images of melting glaciers and eroding coastlines as a "wakeup call" to Americans in the Lower 48 states about the urgent need to address climate change.
The trip is part of a broad campaign to seal an international deal later this year to curb carbon emissions, something the White House hopes will cap Obama's legacy on climate during his time in office.
It also highlights inherent contradictions in his climate and energy policies. While Obama pushes the world to wean itself from fossil fuels, his administration gave Shell the green light earlier this month to drill in the oil-rich Chukchi Sea.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/29/us-usa-obama-alaska-idUSKCN0QY09G20150829