US President Joe Biden’s administration will suspend oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge pending an environmental review.
The move reverses a decision made by former President Donald Trump to sell oil leases in the refuge to expand fossil fuel and mineral development.
The giant Alaskan wilderness is home to many species, including polar bears, caribou and wolves.
Arctic tribal leaders have welcomed the move but Republicans are opposed.
In January, Trump pushed ahead with the sale for the rights to drill for oil on around 5% of the refuge, just days before his presidential term ended.
Covering some 19 million acres the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is often described as America’s last great wilderness.
It’s a critically important location for many species, including polar bears.
In his campaign, Biden pledged to protect the habitat.
“President Biden believes America’s national treasures are cultural and economic cornerstones of our country,” White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said in a statement.
“He is grateful for the prompt action by the Department of the Interior to suspend all leasing pending a review of decisions made in the last administration’s final days that could have changed the character of this special place forever,” she added.
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