JUNEAU – The following statement was issued by Michael LeVine, Senior Arctic Fellow at Ocean Conservancy, in reaction to an Administrative Order signed today by Alaska Governor Bill Walker that establishes an Alaska Climate Change Strategy and the Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team:

“We thank Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Mallott for their leadership in addressing the very significant climate change issues confronting Alaska. Alaskans know that climate change is real. We are already feeling its impacts on our land, oceans, wildlife and way of life.

“Governor Bill Walker and Lt. Governor Byron Mallott have taken a measured, carefully considered action that can help lay the foundation for a sustainable future for our state. Today’s order rightly prioritizes resilient communities, healthy ecosystems and a vibrant economy. It also demonstrates that planning a safer, smarter and stronger Alaska in the face of climate change is a nonpartisan issue.

“Ocean Conservancy remains committed to supporting initiatives like this one, which will ensure that Alaskan communities are resilient, our wildlife and ecosystems continue to thrive and our economy stays strong.”

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Michael LeVine is available for interviews upon request.

NOTE TO EDITORS

• The order commits the State of Alaska to taking “equitable action” to address the impacts of climate change in Alaska. It creates a steering committee that will develop a state strategy encompassing mitigation, adaptation, research, and emergency response. That steering committee will include state commissioners, representatives from the University of Alaska, and up to 15 members of the public, who will be appointed by the governor.
• The announcement follows a Climate Change Roundtable that brought together Alaskan leaders from industry, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and communities to discuss ways to move forward to address climate change. It also comes several days after a group of Alaskan youth filed a lawsuit in state court in Alaska seeking to have the state take more aggressive action to combat climate change.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.