Polar bears, belugas, and caribou, oh my! Cute animals may pull at the heart strings, but when it comes to environmental policy, politics govern the mind. It's important to remember that policy positions and politics, especially in concern to the environment, are much more intricate than they seem. This, however, is not the case with Governor Sarah Palin; her environmental policies stem straight from the conservative playbook.
Alaska experiences warming faster than any state in the U.S. The Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National park recedes so fast that signs are posted each year to document the change. The sign dated 1917 is now barely visible from the current boundary, standing almost a mile away from the glacier. Still, Palin continues to doubt the influence of humans on climate change. She even eclipses President Bush on this issue, who changed his position on climate change, agreeing with experts that the U.S. should reduce its carbon emissions to avoid dangerous levels of global warming.
As Governor of Alaska, Palin's environmental concerns regard oil drilling. Her pursuits toward drilling infringe upon many other environmental concerns, such as the protection for beluga whales in Cook Inlet, where new gas developments are being proposed. Similarly, she protested polar bears" classification as endangered because such a label would interfere with drilling in coastal waters.
Lastly, Palin's full-fledged support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserves (ANWR) shows her regard for the oil industry over environmental concerns. ANWR is a 19 million acre refuge of untouched land, home to bears, cranes, gray wolves, and caribou. Proposed development and drilling would wipe out the majority of these animal populations. Arguments that drilling in ANWR will reduce gas prices remain disputed. A 2004 study by the Energy Information Agency found that drilling in the wildlife refuge may cut the cost of a gallon of gas by 3.
