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Peak Oil and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

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Abstract

When Peak Oil is reached, oil production is slated to decline. If the world’s economic engine is still running on oil, there is potential for instability in the global economy as oil becomes scarcer and more expensive. Oil will thus become an even stronger magnet for conflict. The response by some people to the possibility of reaching Peak Oil is to advocate for increased access to oil reserves the world over. Knowing as we do, however, that oil is a finite resource, we should not sacrifice our treasured areas in an effort to put off the inevitable transition to alternate energy sources. The Coastal Plain of the Arctics National Wildlife Refuge is one such place that should be protected in perpetuity for its natural values rather than exploited for short-term gain.

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Correspondence to Peter Van Tuyn .

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Tuyn, P. (2014). Peak Oil and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In: Gates, J., Trauger, D., Czech, B. (eds) Peak Oil, Economic Growth, and Wildlife Conservation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1954-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1954-3_9

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