As a regional hub for 10 remote villages about 30 miles above the Arctic Circle, Kotzebue is where Obama came closest to actually seeing the communities he’s touted throughout his trip as being imperiled by climate change.
Climate Change
Village relocation efforts given ‘significant’ boost by president
The federal government is tapping the Denali Commission as the lead agency to address the relocation of coastal communities across the state.
Arctic leaders outline local priorities in letter to President Obama
The letter covers a lot of ground — outlining the need to develop a deep-draft port above the Arctic Circle and advocating sharing federal revenue from offshore oil drilling with local residents.
Kotzebue prepares for a presidential visit
Everyone from fishermen to local leaders are getting ready for the president’s visit — and have their own hopes for what he takes away.
Industry and interest groups both displeased with Obama’s words on climate
Nobody seems totally happy with the president’s speech on climate change: too vague, too bleak, goes too far, doesn’t go far enough.
Even with another icebreaker, US fleet pales against its Arctic neighbors
Obama proposed to speed up construction of a heavy icebreaker by two years. He wants the new ship to be polar-ready by the year 2020, rather than 2022.