In this edition:
- An upcoming RFF First Wednesday Seminar on offshore energy leasing in the Arctic
- RFF climate research featured as part of the US Climate Resilience Toolkit
Arctic Drilling Plans
Shell has announced that it will proceed with its Arctic drilling plans, “assuming timely approval from the US federal government.” The company has spent significant time and money on oil exploration in Alaska’s Chukchi and Beufort Seas, acknowledging that “technical, fiscal, regulatory, [and] political” issues may still affect its Arctic development efforts.
Next month’s RFF First Wednesday Seminar on April 1, co-hosted with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, will highlight efforts by the Obama administration to develop a targeted leasing model and drilling standards tailored to the Arctic. Experts will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these regulations and the broader framework needed to support integrated Arctic management and prudent development. Register to attend in person or watch the live webcast.
Flood Mitigation Efforts
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s US Climate Resilience Toolkit focuses on actions to mitigate climate change and guide communities and businesses “through the process of planning and implementing resilience-building projects.” Featured in the toolkit is research by RFF’s Margaret Walls, Carolyn Kousky, and Ziyan Chu, in which they estimate the “climate resilience benefits” of Missouri’s Meramec Greenway under four climate change scenarios. They calculate the dollar value associated with conserving the greenway, noting that it “provides a substantial flood mitigation benefit … even before considering increased risks from climate change.” Work by the researchers is underway to develop an approach to identify new floodplain lands for conservation.