Shell announced that it will not drill offshore in the Arctic Beaufort Sea in 2011.
The company says it lacks confidence that they could meet the standards to get the required permits.
As we saw during the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, oil companies are not prepared to deal with massive oil spills, and particularly in the remote, unforgiving Arctic, this would have catastrophic consequences.
The Arctic is home to vibrant coastal communities and marine ecosystems filled with whales, polar bears, seals, and other marine life that is already being impacted by rapid climate change. Industrial development and the possibility of a spill would add unacceptable additional pressures for their existence.
"We need a plan that ensures we do not move forward with oil and gas activities unless and until they can be conducted without harming the health of the ecosystem or the subsistence way of life. Courts, scientists, and communities have pointed to the lack of basic science in the Arctic Ocean. Now, the U.S. Geological Survey is conducting an analysis that will help answer some of these questions, and the president's Oil Spill Commission has reiterated the need for better science and spill response capabilities. Shell's decision gives us time to finish these processes, perform the basic research and monitoring, and make a full and fair assessment of the preparedness capabilities," said the non-profit Oceana.
"We hope this decision by Shell will also bring a commitment from them and others in the oil industry to fully review the mistakes that led to the Deepwater Horizon blowout with local communities, the public and the government. We need a truly open discussion about how to determine if we should move forward with oil and gas activities in the Arctic, and if so, when, where and how."
