Democratic Forum: The Melting Arctic: Climate Change Impacts on People and Wildlife

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House Committee on Natural Resources: The Melting Arctic: Climate Change Impacts on People and Wildlife – October 5, 2020

Alaska Native witnesses testify about impacts of climate change

Monday, October 5, 2020

Indianz.Com

On Monday, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources and the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a Democratic forum titled “The Melting Arctic: Climate Change Impacts on People and Wildlife.”

The event will focus on the human and environmental impacts of climate change in the Arctic, amid the Trump administration’s energy and mineral extraction agenda. To coincide with the forum, the Democratic majority on the House Committee on Natural Resources will release a report titled “The Melting Arctic: Climate Impacts on People and Wildlife.”

Among other decisions made during the Trump era, Congressional Republicans in 2017 attached a provision to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. The Department of the Interior has moved quickly to try to make the first lease sale happen in advance of the four-year deadline in the law, despite a lack of critical data, as well as opposition from Alaska Natives whose culture and way of life are dependent on natural resources in the region.

The forum will examine the administrative pressure being put on career experts and the impacts of the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” strategy. Speakers include:

Mary David
Executive Vice President
Kawerak, Inc.

Rosemary Ahtuangaruak
Resident
Native Village of Nuiqsut

Bernadette Demientieff
Executive Director
Gwich’in Steering Committee

Maka Monture Paki
Programs and Movement Building Associate
Alaska Conservation Foundation

The forum takes place at 2pm Eastern. It will be broadcast on YouTube and on Facebook.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is led by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-California). The Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife is led by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California).

House Committee on Natural Resources Notice

Joint EMR/WOW Virtual Democratic Forum – The Melting Arctic: Climate Change Impacts on People and Wildlife (October 5, 2020)