Alaska's Willow oil project gets green light despite climate concerns

A federal judge in Anchorage has ruled that the Willow oil project in Alaska's Arctic can proceed, rejecting the claims of environmental groups who argued that the project's approval didn't adequately consider its contribution to climate change and potential harm to polar bears. The decision removes one of the last obstacles to the project, which would be the largest oil development on federal land in decades. Environmental groups plan to appeal the ruling. The project has gained national attention and faced opposition from climate activists, who argue that it contradicts President Biden's commitments to tackle climate change. ConocoPhillips, the company behind the project, emphasizes the economic benefits and its efforts to limit environmental impact. Some Alaska Native groups have joined conservationists in opposing the project, while others support it for the potential economic benefits. The Biden administration has proposed new rules to limit future oil and gas development in other parts of the region.