The Economics of Oil Development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

To combat the worst impacts of climate change, governments, companies, and consumers alike are forcing a shift to low-carbon energy economies. In this paper, WWF examines the possibility of future oil developments within Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge given this changing energy landscape. This study used the most recent data and modeling from Rystad Energy to analyze both potential of future oil development and the practical and economic uncertainties related to development brought about by the impacts of warming temperatures and an economy that is shifting to a reduced carbon-based energy dependence.