>>Deb Haaland: Good afternoon everyone and thank you for the opportunity to share a
few words at the launch of the ArcticX summit. President Biden has challenged all of
us to use an all-of-government approach to climate change and Interior's partnership
with Secretary Granholm and the Department of Energy is just one way we're working
together to tackle the challenge of our lifetime.
There are limitless opportunities and diverse challenges in the Arctic. When I visited
Alaska back in 2018, I was in complete awe of the majestic landscape and how resilient
the people who live there are. When I hear from Alaskans and meet with Alaska Native
communities as Secretary of the Interior, they tell me about the beauty of their environment.
They tell me how resourceful their communities are in a harsh environment and about the
things they need to thrive. This partnership will help us explore ways to share, deliver
and co-produce technologies that support communities,
innovators and small businesses in Alaska.
The Department of the Interior manages public lands in our national park, national wildlife
refuge and national wilderness preservation systems. We honor the traditional knowledge of
indigenous Alaskans who were the first stewards of this area by safeguarding lands, waters and
resources for present and future generations. Traditionally, underserved rural and indigenous
communities in Alaska, and across the globe, experience detrimental impacts to their ways of
life because of climate change. Many communities lack basic infrastructure like clean water,
sanitation and healthcare facilities; and the pandemic has not only put a spotlight on these
disparities, it has exacerbated them. Fragility in these systems cannot ensure our Arctic
communities have the security and resources they need to envision a sustainable future they
can determine for themselves. But I know that innovation has become a way of life in the
Arctic. For the last 25 years, Alaska has been actively and creatively studying how to transition
communities to more sustainable, practical and economical energy sources. The ArcticX summit
will help launch the next 25 years of innovation and partnership. There are endless opportunities
for affordable and practical improvements. Many villages have electric grids that are isolated
from other communities. We have an opportunity to teach the world how to sustainably and reliably
provide a decentralized grid powered by indigenous expertise and an abundance of renewable energy
sources using wind, tidal and geothermal energy generation.
Like our colleagues at Energy, Interior scientists are working to understand how this climate
crisis impacts the Arctic. We're working to provide information and support to over 300
communities in Alaska experiencing climate impacts in their daily lives. At Interior, we're
empowering indigenous communities to use their traditional knowledge and leadership to propel
our understanding of these ecosystems and adaptation.
Partnerships with local communities and Alaska Native entrepreneurs and businesses that
help design, fund, construct, maintain, control and draw benefits from local energy production
that are regenerative investment in Arctic communities. I am grateful to the national
laboratories and the Arctic Energy Office for bringing people together to share technology
and lessons learned and to harness the innovative potential of the Arctic. Huge thanks to everyone
involved in this launch and congratulations. This is just the beginning but I know it will make
a difference for families living in the Arctic. Thank you.