President Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Alaskan Arctic during a three-day trip this week to discuss climate change and its threat to the region.
The president will attend a meeting of the Arctic Council, a forum of eight countries addressing issues facing Arctic nations. The president will advocate for a collective response to climate change.
To kick off the historic trip, the White House announced on Monday that the name of the nation’s highest peak would officially change from Mount McKinley to its traditional native Alaskan name, Denali.
Climate change has affected Alaska more noticeably than other places in the U.S., according to Anchorage-based journalist Elizabeth Arnold. Receding glaciers and melting permafrost contribute to changes in the region’s ecosystems that have impacted the many native Alaskan communities who still rely on subsistence fishing and hunting. The president will visit several glaciers and native villages during his trip.
The U.S. just began its two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council, which environmentalists see as an opportunity to take a leadership role in addressing environmental concerns.
Yet even while advocating for a reduction in fossil fuel usage, Obama recently received criticism for granting Shell, a major oil and gas company, a permit to drill for oil off the coast of Alaska. Drilling in the region is notoriously risky due to rough seas and dangerous ice flows which can cause oil spills.
“The president was convinced it could be done safely,” Arnold said. “Basically, they’re saying … Shell now has to prove itself, that it’s a test.”
Warm up questions
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Where is the Arctic?
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Which countries control the land and water in the Arctic?
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What is climate change?
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Have you noticed any effects of climate change where you live?
Critical thinking questions
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Why is climate change more noticeable in Alaska?
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What should the Arctic Council do to address climate change?
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What would happen if the Arctic ice melts?
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How will the world’s climate be different 50 years from now?
