Environmentalists and young adults across all social media platforms are outraged as they gain knowledge of a new project introduced by the Biden administration that could cause extreme environmental changes in the future. 

The project known as the Willow Project is an eight billion dollar drilling project that will create new oil fields on the Alaskan North Slope. If the proposal goes through, the United States government could then produce 180,000 barrels of oil each day which is 1.5 percent of the U.S. total oil production according to the ConocoPhillips website. Once Alaska is bought for oil drilling it is said that this will release 287 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the environment over the next 30 years that could cause irreversible damage to the environment and set climate action back even further. This project would be the largest proposed drilling project on federal land.

Many activists are taking to social media to reach people from all over the world to voice their concerns about the damaging effects this new project could have on not only Alaskan land but also the effects of climate change. In a video uploaded to Tik Tok by hannah.is.over.this the young activist urges others to take action on social media, “We think the Willow Project is bad for this country, bad for the planet, and bad for the Biden administration’s reputation.” explained the climate movement activist. 

The outdoor clothing brand most known for being environmental activists and taking steps to conserve our land has also taken to social media to urge everyone that now is the time to act. In a Tik Tok posted by the planet loving brand Patagonia stated that, “It would generate roughly 9.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year and cause irreversible damage to this precious ecosystem.” The brand encourages people to send messages to Secretary Haaland to stop this ecological crisis and give the Arctic the future it deserves. 

The Willow project is expected to create 2,500 jobs for Union workers as well as 300 permanent jobs. While this could mean great things for Alaska from an economic standpoint many are upset with this decision because while this will not only impose a potential climate disaster it will intrude on Alaska’s native wildlife. 

 According to an article by PBS the Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world. The approval of a project of this magnitude could have the power to increase the warming of the Arctic and cause further climate damages. 

To ensure a future for the Alaskan Arctic, do your part to make a change today, together we can make a change. Sign petitions, write letters, and spread awareness.