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The Burn and the Boom of Climate Change in Alaska

Posted by: Nate Berg

31 March 2008 - 2:00pm

Climate change will probably be pretty devastating for coastal Alaska, but it could also bring a boom to the area's economy, according to a recent report.

"One the one hand, two entire villages are in danger of being swallowed by a newly encroaching sea. On the other hand, the state could stand to profit from global warming - from increased tourism and research dollars, and the expansion of commercial shipping into the Arctic."

"Both are conclusions drawn in a final report of a legislative commission on climate change's impacts on Alaska. The group of two House members, two state senators and seven public members took a year and a half to investigate the topic, working with government agencies and the public all over the state. Results were released March 17."

"Environmental activists such as Jim Ayers of Oceana, an environmental group based in Juneau, were disappointed that the report focused on adapting to the results of climate change, not minimizing the effects or preventing them."

Full Story: The bright side of global warming
Source: Juneau Empire, March 31, 2008
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There are limits to the amount of pollution the environment can absorb without reducing ecosystem services and impairing both human health and the sustainability of our economy.
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