Anchorage, AK

Defenders of Wildlife applauded the Department of Interior’s announcement that it will not proceed with three planned oil lease sales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico. Nicole Whittington-Evans, Director of Alaska Program for Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:

“This is a significant win not only for our climate but also for the conservation efforts to restore the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale population. We encourage the Biden administration to continue prioritizing our environment and a sustainable energy future in the face of the craven and opportunistic push by big oil and gas interests seeking to exploit the instability in energy markets brought about by the war in Ukraine.”

Cook Inlet beluga whale looking above water
Paul Wade/NOAA Fisheries

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

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