Learning to Thrive: Alaska's Next Economy in a Warming World

LEARNING TO THRIVE:

ALASKA’S NEXT ECONOMY IN A WARMING WORLD Developed for Alaska Climate Alliance – Regenerative Economies Working Group Primary Authors Kay Brown, Pacific Environment Eleanor Gagnon, Just Transition Collective

In Collaboration With Robbi Mixon, Lee Hart, Pam Miller, Maddie Halloran, Rebecca Siegel, Veri di Suvero, Austin Todd, Brittany Orrison Woods, and the Regenerative Economies Working Group - AKNextEconomy.com

Design Original design by: Glo Chitwood, Alaska Just Transition Collective Updated design by: Jessica Wright, Pacific Environment

Art Alyssa Quintyne: gouachebody.com, Instagram @startickles Scott Clendaniel: Real Art is Better

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors and contributors (and readers, we hope!) of this report respectfully acknowledge that the land and resources we are describing and analyzing are the ancestral and unceded territory of the Indigenous Peoples of Alaska.

We write this with deep gratitude for their continued care and stewardship of the land on which we live, work and play. We acknowledge this not only in thanks to the Indigenous communities who have held relationship with this land for generations but also in recognition of the historical and ongoing legacy of colonialism.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: ALASKA’S NEXT ECONOMY IN A WARMING WORLD ACCELERATING THE TRANSITION TO A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY BENEFITS ALASKANS Climate change is impacting Alaska’s economy, a trend that will continue to intensify as sea ice, glaciers and snow cover melt, permafrost thaws, coasts erode, and wildfires increase. These and other climate-driven changes are harming fisheries and other livelihoods and having profound effects on infrastructure, public health, cultural practices and ecosystems throughout the state [1].

Alaska is on the front lines of climate impacts, warming two to three times faster than the global average [2].

Recognizing these unprecedented environmental changes, Alaskans have an opportunity to re-envision and achieve a regenerative economy that provides greater benefits and security.

WHAT IS A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY? Regenerative economies build community wealth in ways that improve ecological and social well-being.

Regenerative economies create long-term, meaningful jobs that sustain our communities, lands, waters, and high-quality ways of life. Alaska Native traditional values and practices focus on well-being, cultural continuity, and a holistic, integrated worldview, which can strengthen our next economy and provide the foundation for the Alaska livelihoods and lifestyles we love.

A just transition means Alaska will grow in metrics that matter: human welfare, health, happiness, and community stability. Together we can build a more resilient and robust economy to ensure that all Alaskans can thrive and prosper into the future.

AN ACTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY This report highlights promising economic opportunities that are the foundations upon which a prosperous and regenerative economy can be built: renewable energy, affordable and accessible internet access, tourism, outdoor recreation, fisheries, agriculture, mariculture, education, workforce development, and care economies. The role of mining in a regenerative economy is also discussed. These sectors have a role to play in creating a more sustainable and just economy in Alaska. We have the power to create the changes needed, and this report describes specific steps we can take to achieve a just transition to a regenerative economy.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ALASKA CAN CREATE A PROSPEROUS, REGENERATIVE ECONOMY BY PURSUING FORWARD-LOOKING OPPORTUNITIES IN: RENEWABLE ENERGY . . . 4 Provides affordable and clean energy for individuals and businesses.

BROADBAND . . . 9 Enhances healthcare, education and entrepreneurial activities.

CARE ECONOMIES . . . 11 Provide the foundation for a successful and prosperous economy.

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT . . . 13 Increases access to pre-Kindergarten to university, technical training, and career development opportunities.

TOURISM AND OUTDOOR RECREATION . . . 16 Expands local businesses that are socially conscious and culturally appropriate.

AGRICULTURE, MARICULTURE, AND FISHERIES . . . 19 Bolsters food security in ways that strengthen community resilience and enhance ecosystems.

MINING IN A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY . . . 25 As the push to mine in remote areas of Alaska intensifies, new laws are needed to protect public health and the environment.

ENDNOTES . . . 28

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RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR PROSPEROUS REGENERATIVE ECONOMIES Lower costs, new federal resources and improving technologies are driving change.

ACTIONS NEEDED To accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy: Pass legislation to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requiring utilities in the railbelt to transition their generation to 80% renewable energy by 2040.

Pass Green Bank legislation to support energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in buildings.

Develop strategic collaborations to help Alaska receive funds under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Upgrade the electric grid and energy infrastructure to connect to renewable energy sources.

Continue funding the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund.

Develop and pass an improved version of the Emerging Energy Technology Fund (EETF), which lapsed three years ago, to support cutting-edge energy technology applications in Alaska.

Pass legislation to enable annual net-metering of solar energy, providing an opportunity for individuals to make their own electricity year-round for transport and heating.

Invest in a robust public transportation infrastructure, reducing materials consumption for individual vehicles.

Electrify state vehicles, ferries and port infrastructure.

Expand electric charging infrastructure.

Establish an Alaska Climate Adaptation Response Fund.

Stop the expansion of fossil fuel production. End fossil fuel subsidies for exploration, development, production and infrastructure. Stop issuing new fossil fuel leases.

Achieve large reductions in Alaska’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions including methane.

Numerous scientific studies have warned that, to keep the planet habitable, effective action must begin immediately if global temperature rise is to be kept below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.

Use and production of fossil fuels must be phased down now to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions [3].

A recent report by the U.S. government, the Fifth National Climate Assessment, provides details on numerous climate impacts occurring in Alaska, and the investments and capacity building needed to address them [4].

Affordable, clean, renewable, community-owned energy systems are the cornerstones empowering regenerative economies. Accelerating the transition to renewable energy will help realize economic opportunities and spur job growth.

Alaska has an enormous supply of renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, geothermal and salmon-friendly hydro. The scale of Alaska’s vast undeveloped renewable energy resource endowment is more than 14 times the total U.S. energy consumption [5].

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BENEFITS By pursuing a clean energy future, Alaska can:

PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ENERGY FOR FAMILIES & BUSINESSES. Lowering the cost of energy with renewable sources can help communities bridge the gap to more regenerative economies, and public subsidies have assisted communities and utilities in covering the costs of transition to renewable energy. Without renewable energy, it will be increasingly unaffordable to live in rural communities, where energy is already overwhelmingly expensive.

Renewable energy technology costs have dropped dramatically, making renewable sources cheaper than fossil fuels.

Alaska’s historically high and volatile fossil fuel-based energy costs have been moderated by the successful development of renewable energy resources across the state, including: Hydropower: Bradley Lake & Battle Creek Diversion, Solomon Gulch, Chignik Lagoon, Terror Lake, Swan Lake, Tyee Lake, and other recent projects in both the Southeast and Southwest.

Wind: Fire Island, Eva Creek, Kotzebue, Kodiak & AVEC. Battery Energy Storage Systems: Golden Valley Electric Association and Homer Electric Association.

Solar: GVEA Solar PV, MEA Solar PV by Independent Power Producers; with discussions underway for a 20MW solar PV project in HEA territory.

Village Scale Solar: PV projects in remote rural communities, e.g., Eagle, Hughes, and Kaltag.

Biomass: Juneau, Tok, Coffman Cove, Craig, Gulkana, Elim, Thorne Bay, Haines, and Tanana.

Geothermal: Chena Hot Springs.

Hydrokinetic: Igiuigig’s RivGen system.

PHOTO: TODD PARIS, SOLARIZE FAIRBANKS

IMPROVE OUR HEALTH & SAVE LIVES.

EMPOWER COMMUNITIES.

Using electric vehicles reduces air pollution from fossil fuels, while renewable energy reduces illness from air pollution, which decreases healthcare costs.

Accelerating the development of Alaska’s vast renewable energy potential would give communities the authority and support to decide where their energy sources come from and how they are allocated. Independent Power Producers are particularly important vehicles for creating stronger communities via distributed ownership.

HONOR TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE & CULTURES. We must ensure that a clean energy economy is consistent with Indigenous values. Rather than extracting from the land and exporting profits, a regenerative economy harmonizes production and consumption and encourages sharing of resources within communities. It honors the original stewards upon whose land renewables are placed.

STABILIZE THE CLIMATE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. Transitioning as soon as possible to renewables is vital to preventing further harm and greater state expenditure that the climate crisis will provoke.

ACHIEVE ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY & SECURITY. Alaska communities need reliable, and whenever possible, community-owned renewable energy systems. Energy sovereignty, particularly for Alaska Native Tribes and communities, is essential for maintaining and creating energy stability and security within the state.

Transitioning to renewable energy is the best way to achieve true energy security for the nation and Alaska communities.

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CREATE MORE JOBS.

IMPROVE ECONOMIC STABILITY.

Accelerating Alaska’s transition to renewable energy will create thousands of new, well-paid jobs. A 2022 study estimates a net positive of more than 67,000 new jobs by converting to 100% renewables by 2050 — far more than the jobs lost in oil and gas sectors [6]. Additionally, passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act is spurring new projects and accelerating the transition.

By phasing out reliance on fossil fuel revenues to fund the state government, Alaska can dramatically reduce its vulnerability to the volatility of oil prices. Oil taxes and royalties are projected to provide about 27% of total state revenue in FY23 [7]. Over-dependence on oil leaves Alaskans at the mercy of profit-maximizing, price-gouging corporations and authoritarian dictators.

GROW THE ECONOMY WITH NEW, REGENERATIVE INDUSTRIES LIKE GREEN HYDROGEN.¹ With abundant renewable energy resources, Alaska has the potential to produce green hydrogen and green hydrogen-based fuels for shipping and aviation. However, it is critical to look past the fossil fuel industry hype around hydrogen and recognize that green hydrogen –hydrogen produced with 100 percent renewable energy– is the only clean option, and there is a limited range of sectors for which it may be useful.

As carbon abatement efforts continue globally in response to the climate crisis, green hydrogen may provide an opportunity to scale the production of low- and zero-emission fuels for sectors that cannot be easily or fully electrified. For transportation sectors including shipping and aviation, technologies for these fuels are in various stages of development and deployment.

Beyond electrification and energy efficiency measures, green hydrogen-based fuels have emerged as a leading solution to replace fossil fuels; however, uptake, commercialization and deployment are nascent.

Because of Alaska’s vast and widespread endowment of renewable energy resources, there is ample potential surplus capacity to produce green hydrogen and green hydrogen-based marine and aviation fuels. Additionally, there is potential for distributed ownership of green hydrogen facilities by public entities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) as they develop renewable energy resources.

Hydrogen must be green and limited to critical uses.

Green hydrogen-based fuels pose challenges in terms of feedstock, efficiency, cost, scalability, pollutants, and emissions and safety.

Using renewable electricity to create green hydrogen is inefficient, causing a 20-40% loss of energy. That means that green hydrogen will always be considerably more expensive than renewable electricity. For this reason, according to a 2021 Earthjustice report,”[i]t will always be more efficient to rely first on the direct use of renewable electricity wherever it is possible to do so, rather than convert that electricity into hydrogen before using it as an energy source [8].” Hydrogen should therefore not be used for personal transportation, heating applications, or in other situations where more efficient alternatives are available.

¹ Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis, a process that splits water (H2O) into separate hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O) molecules. When renewable electricity powers the electrolysis process, the result is “green hydrogen” (compared to “gray” or “blue” hydrogen, which involves the use of fossil fuels or carbon capture to offset the carbon involved in the electrolysis process, respectively). Green hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel. Green hydrogen-based fuels include green hydrogen (GH2), e-methanol and green ammonia. E-methanol and green ammonia produce criteria air pollutants (pollutants for which an ambient air quality standard has been established by the EPS) when burned, such as particle pollution, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. Comparatively, green hydrogen —if used in a fuel cell rather than combustion engine—produces neither criteria pollutants nor greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen has long been used in many industries and industrial processes; however, 99% of hydrogen produced and consumed today comes from fossil fuels.

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The demand for hydrogen in limited sectors should be met with green hydrogen and not be used to justify a buildout of facilities that otherwise increase pollution or fossil fuel use. Expansion of fossil-based hydrogen facilities and production, and use of hydrogen outside of hard-to-abate sectors, will slow the energy transition. Moreover, production facilities must include sufficient new renewable energy to meet production needs, so as to not cannibalize renewable electric supply from the grid or other sources of renewable energy generation. This requirement, known as “additionality,” ensures that the production of green hydrogen does not result in additional fossil fuel electricity production.

All green hydrogen projects should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they are welcomed by local communities, respect Indigenous cultures and enhance or cause no harm to local economies, ecosystems and subsistence opportunities.

Shipping.

Aviation.

The two limited sectors for which green hydrogen may be useful are shipping and aviation. The Aleutian Islands are at the confluence of the Great Circle shipping route between the U.S. West Coast and Asia and the newly-developing Northern Sea Route near Russia’s Arctic coast. The Aleutians have abundant renewable energy resources that could be used to produce green hydrogen and sustainable green hydrogen-based fuels to supply zero-emission ocean-going vessels (OGVs) serving these routes, as well as opening the possibility for bulk exports of green hydrogen-based fuels to domestic and Asian markets.

Alaska has significant renewable energy potential in southcentral Alaska near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, the world’s third busiest air cargo hub. These resources could support the production of sustainable green hydrogenbased fuels for an emerging zero-emission aviation market.

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates in a 2022 report that there could be substantial demand for liquid hydrogen (LH2) at the Aleutian Islands ports, including 10,000 tonnes annually from ships that already call on the port of Dutch Harbor, one of the busiest fishing ports in the U.S [9].

Cruise ships.

Developing green hydrogen resources along the Inside Passage and Coastal Alaskan cruise routes has the potential to eliminate emissions from the cruise industry while transferring economic power to locally owned utilities. The cruise industry is already setting goals for low and zero emissions operations, and Alaska ports of call are more likely to have excess renewable energy to contribute towards green hydrogen production.

The Alaska Air Group is exploring green hydrogen to meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2040. In partnership with ZeroAvia, a zero-emission aviation company, the two companies aim to develop a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric planes powered by green hydrogen. In addition, with infrastructure improvements that could be sited in the Nikiski area, Alaska has the potential to manufacture green hydrogen to serve the international air cargo hub in Anchorage as well as export green hydrogen to Pacific Rim demand centers.

Changes in U.S. policy support green hydrogen.

The U.S. is attempting to scale up green hydrogen production, with Congress passing major initiatives in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. On average, the IRA tax credits for renewable electricity and “clean” hydrogen can reduce the cost of green hydrogen production by almost half, falling to nearly $3 per kilogram (kg) of hydrogen for a project starting in 2023. The credits' impacts decline steadily after 2023, until they expire in 2032 [10].

In addition to new federal support, renewable energy, green hydrogen production, batteries and fuel cell technologies continue to become more efficient and cheaper, increasing the feasibility of adoption at scale.

² For more information see: https://electrek.co/2021/10/26/alaska-airand-zeroavia-are-developing-a-500-mile-range-hydrogen-electric-plane/

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ACTIONS NEEDED The primary way to jump start a green hydrogen industry in Alaska is to encourage exploration and development of geothermal and coastal wind resources by: Extending the federal IRA clean energy investment tax credits to specifically support upstream exploration, delineation and development of geothermal and coastal wind resources.

Redirecting the outdated, century-old, direct federal fossil fuel subsidies to specifically support upstream exploration, delineation and development of geothermal and coastal wind resources.

Replacing Alaska’s outdated $8 per barrel oil tax credit with a $5 per megawatt-hour (MWh) investment tax credit to support the exploration and development of Alaska's geothermal and coastal wind resources.

Supporting hydrogen fuel cell demonstration projects in collaboration with airline, trucking and marine transportation providers who serve Alaska.

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In rural communities, low-speed internet can cost $300 or more than double that each month [13].

Most rural villages in Alaska still use telecommunications systems established in the 1970s. Even now Alaska faces a steep urban/rural digital divide, especially with access to broadband, i.e., high-speed Internet service. Service remains very slow in many regions as well as prohibitively expensive, particularly in such rural areas where many Indigenous communities reside. This lack of access is compounded by the lack of local doctors and specialists in many rural communities, meaning households are not receiving critical healthcare services, while rural students struggle to obtain an education when they cannot physically attend [14].

BROADBAND

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AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS CAN TRANSFORM RURAL ALASKA COMMUNITIES. Accessible broadband is fundamental to building a regenerative economy. Insufficient broadband access has long been a challenge facing rural Alaska communities, putting those without reliable and affordable internet access at an acute disadvantage. Addressing this lack of access is becoming more urgent as society becomes more reliant on the internet, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic [11]. Fortunately, the availability of new federal funding makes progress possible.

Alaska has the most expensive and lowest quality internet in the country. Only 79% of the state is reliably connected, while an estimated 60,000 people are unserved, and 200,000 are underserved with broadband under 10/1 Mbps.

Tribally-owned broadband initiatives are one of the best ways to meet the needs of Alaska communities currently unserved or underserved by broadband. Akiak Broadband, the first Tribally-owned broadband network in Alaska, has provided high-speed internet for the YukonKuskokwim Delta, which has long been the one of the largest areas in the country without broadband access.

In the public planning process for Alaska’s Digital Equity Plan, over 5000 Alaskans engaged in the process from attending meetings to submitting comments. The Alaska Broadband Office holds 3 weekly meetings: Native Entity Session, General Interest Session, Technical Interest Session. In 2024 the final plan will be released which will award federal money to Alaska for “Capacity Grants”; it will cost an estimated $10-$15 million for our state to fund Digital Equity related projects [17].

PHOTO: BRITTANY WOODS-ORRISON

Affordable access to broadband in every household is essential for realizing Alaska's full potential in the modern economy. Affordable broadband allows people to work from home, attend classes online, access improved healthcare, and allows for more civic engagement, all of which many rural Alaska communities are currently excluded from [12].

Fortunately, Alaska can continue to expand broadband access with funding from the federal Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA).

To date, the IIJA has awarded $379.35 million to Alaska and in June, 2023, a $1 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program was announced [15]. Much of this funding has gone to Alaska Native corporations, Tribes and municipalities, which were given priority access to funding. A Digital Equity Steering Committee has provided a roadmap towards equitably investing this money to make the greatest impacts on the most underserved [16].

The Broadband for Alaskans working group that took on the project for the Digital Equity Plan will now be a coalition, fiscally sponsored by Alaska Municipal League, with the first year of funding donated by the Rasmuson Foundation. The Coalition will convene efforts for digital equity, ask questions, and find resources. Digital Equity in Action is a collective effort to change policy to best serve Alaskans. It provides digital literacy classes, and has a digital refurbisher that restores donated computers and gives them away for free. ³ Revised 01/10/2024

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ACTIONS NEEDED Increase education and advocacy to notify, educate and assist Tribes in obtaining federal funding.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allowed the federal government to create several funding opportunities for underserved communities in the country. Part of this act included the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program [18]. The funding was a major opportunity for tribal governments to improve their communities, BUT poor broadband access in the first place created a barrier for tribal leaders and other rural communities to take advantage of it [19].

Rapidly implement a plan to take maximum advantage of new federal funds through the state’s broadband office in the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.

Use publicly available maps showing current broadband availability (or lack of it) to guide new broadband infrastructure projects.

More effort and funding must be put into engaging communities so that maps (especially of rural Alaska) are more accurate, and communities retain control over how their data is used.

Serve the most expensive locations with satellite technology, getting them connected while fiber makes its way further into communities.

There are two types of satellites: Geostationary High Throughput satellites (GEO – HTS), and Low Earth Orbit satellites (LEO).

The two technologies, in combination, can be used to connect the Extremely High Cost Threshold Locations defined in Alaska’s BEAD program [20].

Implement an Alaska Tribal Network wireless model on a larger scale.

Create a digital refurbisher and more digital literacy programs.

Continue funding the Affordable Connectivity Program to make internet access more affordable. If the program loses federal funding, establish a statewide or national successor program.

While there are no simple solutions for how broadband can be brought to rural communities in an effective and affordable way, funding is now available through the infrastructure bill, and technologies are improving.

BENEFITS

Affordable, accessible, high-speed Internet connection allows communities to access telemedicine, educational opportunities, and employment. Expanding affordable access to broadband in Alaskan homes will:

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND LOWER COSTS FOR FAMILIES. Expanding access increases utilization of telemedicine, educational programs, remote work, and reduces travel costs.

BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. High-speed internet brings educational resources to Alaskans anywhere they reside.

BUILD ECONOMIC SECURITY [21].

A 1% increase in access to high-speed Internet could result in: $67.7 million in growth for Alaska’s economy. 1,890 jobs saved or created. $49,184,413 in extra income for Alaskans. $221,743 in healthcare costs saved. $2,536,553 in mileage costs saved.

3,276,906 pounds of CO2 emissions cut.

INCREASE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE. Telemedicine will make healthcare far more accessible, avoiding the need for expensive trips to doctors.

CONNECT RURAL ALASKANS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES AND EACH OTHER. Broadband is a crucial aspect of addressing many of Alaska’s biggest and most complex challenges: internet connectivity may be a balm to the isolation rural Alaskans can experience.

CREATE JOBS. Expanded broadband access will support entrepreneurial activity and businesses throughout the state including the arts, manufacturing and home-based professional services. It will create new jobs, including highly paid remote work for people across the state, which will help diversify rural economies and let people stay in their communities.

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to meet the demand [22]. Existing care is prohibitively expensive, costing as much or more than college tuition, while the early childhood education workforce is one of the lowest compensated professions with an average salary of $12/hr [23]. When families cannot work due to the lack of childcare or other caretaking responsibilities, such as elder care or hospice, the workforce and economy are negatively impacted.

CARE ECONOMIES A ROBUST CARE ECONOMY FOR ALL SUPPORTS A STRONGER MORE RESILIENT ALASKA. Improving the quality of care in the state will help retain and attract talent that will help Alaska evolve and innovate the next economy.

From child-care to elder-care, and healthcare in all its facets, caring for one another is an essential part of the lives of human beings. The care economy includes both paid and unpaid work, and can often be invisible. Additionally, the activities that fall within the care economy are often feminized, meaning much of the labor is done by women and girls and is undervalued, underpaid and lacks a fair work framework to protect workers.

A just and vibrant Alaska economy depends on supporting the holistic wellbeing of all Alaskans through culturally appropriate and affordable care (health care, mental health, child care, elder care, disability care, home care) in our communities and homes.

Currently 61% of Alaska is a child care desert, and the state does not have enough child care spaces

Public health is another major concern in Alaska. Alaska has the third highest proportion of the population without health insurance in the country at 14 percent [24]. People are often forced to drop out of the workforce to become family caregivers. When home care is not valued and caregivers, who are disproportionately women, are not recognized for the essential work they do, communities and individuals struggle.

Caregivers help Alaskans live full and independent lives and are a critical part of keeping communities together. However, current caregivers are not just unappreciated but are systemically kept in poverty. The existing economic system both incentivizes people to hire caregivers and penalizes people who choose to be caregivers. Yet, people trying to access care and caregivers face multiple barriers to accessing and providing in-home care under fair and safe conditions.

At-home caregivers are especially vital for elder care and the workers are often immigrants who face low pay and abuse both from clients and agencies.

Alaska has the fastest aging population in the country, and many of our elders live with Alzheimers and other dementias. In-home caregivers help our elders remain in their homes while aiding with everyday activities such as taking their medications, preparing food, eating, bathing, and transportation. As the state population ages more care is required.

Climate change will accelerate the frequency and intensify the degree of care needed, increasing existing health disparities within the state and the spread of diseases [25]. It will also exacerbate the root problems that create poor health outcomes in the state, such as inadequate sanitation and water supplies in rural communities.

We must prepare our healthcare systems today.

When people have access to the family, land, food, and culture that raised them, they can lead happier, healthier lives. Helping elders to age at home with dignity allows them to pass their knowledge to future generations. In re-imagining a care economy in Alaska, ensuring that child and elder care is both valued and affordable is essential.

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ACTIONS NEEDED To create a more equitable and effective care economy, Alaska can:

To correct the continued underfunding of care providers and provide equitable payment that honors the crucial role care providers play in our economy Alaskans should:

Reduce barriers to receiving and providing care Caregivers have little control over their schedule, no assurance of work, no job security, no stability and must rely on social safety net programs.

Improve care and access to adequate housing for the unhoused populations in Alaska.

Provide increased and consistent funding from local, state and federal sources to support child care providers, focusing on innovation, partnerships, and quality [26].

Provide grants to child care businesses to help increase capacity, scholarships for early educators to promote quality, and increased subsidy support to help parents.

Encourage public-private partnerships with communities and businesses.

Be flexible enough to support pilot projects and innovative ideas within child care and early education, such as the childcare cooperative piloted by the Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage.

Reduce the administrative burden on families by streamlining the child care assistance application process and increasing recertification to 12 months.

Decrease out of pocket care costs for Alaska families with measures such as: Supporting innovative capacity building through the colocation of care businesses within housing developments, workplaces, and educational institutions to reduce costs.

Increase funding to child care, and other care assistance programs so more families can receive subsidies.

Eliminate co-pays for Alaska families with incomes below the federal poverty limit.

Strengthen State support of federal medical support programs including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Support care workers and in home care programs When elders receive care in their own homes, they can remain active participants in their Communities.

Residential facilities and nursing homes are frequently far from loved ones and culturally informed care. Individuals with disabilities seeking care are also all too often faced with a similar choice. Receiving the care that one needs to live a life of dignity should not require being separated from the community.

Increase access to telehealth resources, including via broadband improvements Many small communities in Alaska have no dedicated doctors and nurses, and without telemedicine residents either travel long distances for medical care or forgo it. Tele-psychiatry is especially important for youth in Northern communities where instances of depression and suicide are high [27].

Taking care of each other, and in particular our elders, is fundamental to remembering our way forward to a just transition.

BENEFITS IMPROVE ECONOMIC STABILITY.

ATTRACT MORE FAMILIES AND PREVENT BRAIN DRAIN.

Holistic care, and improved access to affordable childcare will allow more Alaskans to maintain their vocation of choice, remain in their community of choice for longer, and increase economic benefits to their families.

People cannot work if they cannot find care for their dependents. By designing more effective and affordable child care, healthcare and elder care systems that pay their workers well will prevent Alaskans from leaving the state due to the child care crisis, or inaccessible health care, while also making the state more attractive to newcomers.

IMPROVE OUR HEALTH. A care economy that respects the whole human helps treat and prevent diseases, reduces the costs associated with administering care, and provides necessary treatment in a culturally appropriate setting.

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EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INCREASES ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALASKANS. The shift to a regenerative economy provides an unparalleled opportunity to address the multifaceted challenges facing the Alaskan economy and workforce, such as poverty, substance abuse and racism. The decisions made now will profoundly impact the economy, environment and social fabric for decades to come [28]]. The workforce of tomorrow includes more remote work, more service and information work, higher wages and more job security for workers, and a shift to renewable energy. Investing in a workforce that is ready to meet Alaska’s future civic and economic needs and is a top priority especially considering worker shortages in many sectors and population out migration.

The biggest challenge facing the local workforce is not skill level, but people battling the challenges in their lives such as generational trauma and substance abuse [29]. Alaska requires a fully-funded, comprehensive and cohesive education and workforce development system that supports early-stage skill development, rapid re-skilling, transition navigation, life-long learning opportunities, culturally sensitive applications and increased mental health services.

Alaskan students are under-prepared for existing pre-K through higher education systems that have historically presented Western knowledge as superior to other worldviews, including Alaska Native ways of knowing, which have often been presented as inferior to the dominant western systems [30]. A culturally informed curriculum would better meet the needs of Alaska's diverse students, while also combatting the institutional inequalities many rural students face. Prioritizing local knowledge throughout Alaska's education systems via homegrown teachers, place-based curriculums which set indigenous ways of knowing on equal footing as western knowledge systems, and language immersion programs will improve student achievement.

Workforce training programs with expanded remote learning opportunities that minimize the barriers many rural and poor Alaskans face enables students to pursue degrees and certifications without leaving their home communities.

These should be coupled with the employment of community members as teachers, the revitalization and sharing of Indigenous languages and knowledge in order to create a more vibrant and resilient workforce.

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ACTIONS NEEDED To provide opportunities for Alaskans to gain the skills needed for current and future job opportunities, existing programs should be strengthened and enhanced in the following ways: Develop and support a cohesive system of education, training and resource providers by: Alaska has the highest rate of youth disconnection in the US, with 18.7% of youth aged 16-24 disengaged from either work or education.

Supporting trauma-engaged schools that "break rather than perpetuate the cycle of trauma" [31].

Funding and increasing access to mental health resources, including therapists, school counselors, support groups, outpatient programs, and inpatient programs.

Funding and promoting initiatives to train and support indigenous teachers, as well as equip teachers with the knowledge to teach in a way that foregrounds Indigenous values.

Promoting language immersion in schools, as well as further English language learning support for those attempting to enter the workforce.

Providing adequate and consistent state funding for education and increase the Base Student Allocation.

Professional educational systems must honor and develop whole humans by recognizing their roles as engaged community members, providers, parents, caregivers, and employees. Prepare the workforce for tomorrow not yesterday by: Incorporating renewable energy training curriculum into a state-certified apprenticeship program that offers a paid opportunity for individuals entering the workforce to gain skills, knowledge, and mentorship without obtaining an advanced degree. Specifically incorporating renewable energy training curriculum into a state registered apprenticeship program can help standardize the level of renewable energy knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce.

Increasing emphasis on renewable energy industry skills: Incentivize industry-led training curriculum for the construction and operation of renewable energy installations.

Expand the skills of workers in existing construction and operations fields to include renewable energy technologies.

Provide current oil and gas industry workers opportunities to obtain renewable energy skills.

Fund development of renewable energy training curriculum that can be incorporated into existing training programs.

Encourage engagement of K-12 and University students in renewable energy technology education that gives them early exposure to career possibilities. Create a network of educated individuals who can later contribute to a renewable energy transition. Increasing investment and support for long-term wage-generating industries with multifaceted positive impacts such as healthcare, education and public safety.

Increasing small business and early-stage entrepreneurial support particularly in rural Alaska where villages are heavily dependent on outside entities and services.

Entrepreneurship provides a path to increased sovereignty, strength and resilience for Indigenous communities.

Directing support to Indigenous owned small businesses will foster economic self-sustainability and create more opportunities to respond to various long-term challenges such as climate change [32].

Improving data collection and reporting on existing workforce development initiatives.

Funding financial literacy classes to teach youth how to navigate personal finance, loans and debt.

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BENEFITS ⁴ Holistic education and workforce development opportunities will help:

BREAK CYCLES OF TRAUMA.

PREVENT FUTURE INSTABILITY.

NURTURE RESILIENT INDIVIDUALS. Increased alignment of the education and workforce development systems with indigenous values and ways of knowing will help individuals navigate life transitions, roles, the existing supports, and help retain students who often leave AK for educational opportunities.

Revitalizing Indigenous languages and uplifting Indigenous culture will create opportunities for Native Alaskans and help provide the education and technical training needed to increase lifelong earning potential, and create opportunities for locals to work within their communities while also leading to reduced likelihood of housing instability or economic instability.

REVITALIZE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

NURTURE QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE YOUNG PEOPLE. Prioritizing quality education for Alaska youth and a robust and effective workforce development system will empower young people to serve and lead their communities. It will also help ensure that we have the people needed to meet opportunities and connect businesses with qualified workers, while also reversing the brain drain so that Alaska not only retains our best and brightest students but also attracts further talent from Outside and unleashes the positive potential of our greatest resource: human capital.

EMPOWER ALASKA YOUTH.

PHOTO: LIONE CLARE

PHOTO: MEG ROUSSOS

⁴ Alaska has several training programs funded by the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB). For information on these and other workforce development programs see Alaska’s Renewable Energy Future: New Jobs, Affordable Energy, p. 41.

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REGENERATIVE TOURISM REQUIRES LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BE SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE. The pandemic's impacts on the cruise industry highlighted the importance of independent tourists who come to Alaska seeking experiences with authentic Alaska cultures and scenic landscapes. Prior to the pandemic, Alaska’s visitor industry was on an upward trajectory led by the cruise industry; however, this increase, particularly in the cruise industry, has been characterized by an extractive model of tourism. Visitor volume peaked at 2.4 million visitors in 2018, but the pandemic reversed the growth trend dramatically. A just transition requires that we re-envision our tourism industry. We must shift from the current extractive model to one that is regenerative and benefits not only our visitors but also Alaska communities and individuals as well.

Alaska can grow its visitor industry in a responsible way that is not culturally and environmentally extractive. With a holistic approach, regenerative tourism improves ecosystems, strengthens local economies and creates more meaningful and responsible visitor experiences [33].

ACTIONS NEEDED Reinstate an Office of Tourism to undertake a coordinated statewide strategic planning effort incorporating feedback from industry, tribes, local governments and citizens.

Increase state funding for statewide marketing and tourism development that emphasizes ecological, cultural, outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing tourism. Ensure that Tribes and local communities are included in decisions to target markets and destinations, and that communities and Tribes have opportunities to participate in and reap benefits from development in their areas.

Fund deferred and ongoing maintenance of outdoor recreation infrastructure including cabins and trails, restrooms, trailhead parking and campgrounds.

Improve wayfinding and acknowledge Indigenous place names and stories at existing local, state and federal land and water recreation sites and trails with more programs like the Indigenous Place Names Project in Anchorage.

Urge Congress and the administration to pass legislation to support new investments in recreation and green infrastructure to enhance access to public lands and the outdoors.

Continue to urge Congress to pass the bipartisan America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023, the first comprehensive recreation package since 1963 that will improve and expand America’s outdoor recreation economy while delivering sustainable economic boosts to rural communities.

BENEFITS Regenerative tourism invests in community-led solutions that benefit the communities, cultures, and ecosystems of Alaska. Regenerative tourism will:

INVEST TOURISM DOLLARS INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. Regenerative tourism companies are locally-owned and employ locals, rather than outsourcing seasonal workers. By employing Alaskans in seasonal work, tourism’s economic impacts can continue circulating within Alaskan economies.

MINIMALLY (AND SOMETIMES POSITIVELY) IMPACT ECOSYSTEMS AND CULTURES. 16

PROMOTE MEANINGFUL, EDUCATIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE VISITOR EXPERIENCES. Regenerative tourism seeks to find opportunities for tourists themselves to improve their destinations while also building up the local cultures, current industries and businesses through attractions that promote cultural revitalization, environmental restoration, local spending, and the building of regenerative industries [34].

EXAMPLES The Cordova Chamber of Commerce became the first destination in the state to launch a regenerative tourism strategic plan. The plan seeks to work together with and build up the local ecosystem and cultures as well as the current industries and businesses through tour offerings that promote cultural revitalization, environmental restoration, hyper-local spending, and grow regenerative industries.

The Organized Village of Kasaan arranges tours so people can visit the community and walk through the Totem Historic District, visit a traditional Haida longhouse, and watch artisans at work in the Native Carving Shed.

Indigenous Placenames Project installs local Dena'ina place name signs throughout Anchorage as part of a movement to highlight and honor Dena'ina culture.

Sustainable Southeast Partnership is a collective impact network that protects, enables, and grows strategies that benefit communities, cultures, and ecosystems of Southeast Alaska, guided by Indigenous values that also benefit the tourism economy. SSP was the first organization in the state to begin the conversation about regenerative tourism when in 2019 it created the regenerative tourism catalyst position.

Alaska Dream Cruises is an Alaska Native and family-owned cruise company. It is the only locally owned small ship multi-day cruise operator in Alaska.

OUTDOOR RECREATION BENEFITS Outdoor recreation opportunities and natural amenities:

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALASKANS.

OUTDOOR RECREATION Across Alaska, the outdoor recreation sector boosts local economies, creates jobs, and sustains healthy lands, waters and people. 81% of Alaskans participate in outdoor recreation each year [35].

ATTRACT VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. PROVIDE MORE JOBS THAN OIL, GAS, MINING AND LOGGING COMBINED [36].

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ACTIONS NEEDED Educate policy makers on the wide variety of benefits that come from investments in outdoor recreation including new jobs and businesses that help drive local and state economies, community resilience, public health and ways of life.

Require the state to consult with and work collaboratively with local and Tribal governments when planning new outdoor recreation infrastructure, multi-jurisdictional trails, or changes in land use, fish and wildlife management and regulations.

Create a state office of outdoor recreation. The office would work on a broad range of issues, including economic development, outreach and partnerships, infrastructure funding, engagement, access and much more.

EXAMPLES Fly Fishing & Guide Academy in the Bristol Bay Region trains local youth to be sportfishing guides at lucrative fly-in lodges that otherwise would hire people from out of state.

Indigenous Backcountry Fund increases recreational outdoor opportunities for Indigenous Peoples by providing scholarships to access gear, education, and experience to overcome socioeconomic barriers and social stigmas.

Indigenous Sentinels Network supports the collection of Indigenous, local, and traditional knowledge (ILTK) and scientific information to empower holistic, ecosystem- and community-centered natural resource management and decision-making at multiple levels.

There are a number of bicycle initiatives based in Anchorage, including the Susitna Bicycle Institute, which teaches bike maintenance classes across rural Alaska, and GRIT, which is a middle school bicycle mentorship program for girls. A statewide mountain bike coalition is in the formative stages.

Challenge Alaska is dedicated to helping Alaskans living with disabilities through adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation.

Anchorage Youth Employment in Parks is a 10-week summer program that hires Anchorage teens to complete park improvement projects. Teens learn natural resource management job skills by building trails and restoring stream banks while increasing civic engagement, environmental awareness, and leadership skills.

Alaska Youth Stewards The Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska manage the Alaska Youth Stewards project that uses an experiential learning approach to provide hands-on experiences in natural resource jobs, community service, and cultural stewardship. The program is seen as a way for youth to connect with the land in meaningful ways as well as a workforce development program Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Co-Stewardship Agreement. In fall 2023, the US Forest Service and Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing their mutual commitment to costewardship of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (MGRA). The agreement ensures management decisions affecting the MGRA consider the expertise and traditional, cultural, and historical knowledge of the Tlingit and Haida people whenever possible. It also ensures that Tribal consultation and collaboration will be implemented along with federal land management priorities and direction for recreation, range timber, energy production, and conservation of wilderness, refuges, watersheds, and wildlife habitat.⁵

⁵ Find more examples here: https://www.adventuregreenalaska.org/find-green-businesses/

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AGRICULTURE, MARICULTURE, AND FISHERIES BOLSTERS FOOD SECURITY IN WAYS THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND ENHANCE ECOSYSTEMS. FOOD SECURITY Supporting food production in Alaska is crucial for our security and resilience.

The state heavily relies on imported food, with around 95% of its purchased food supply coming from outside of the state, and with a limited reserve of 3-5 days of food. This equates to over $2 billion in funds leaving Alaska’s economy.

As climate change accelerates, further disrupting supply chains and existing food systems, local food production can help mitigate price shocks that are increasing due to extreme weather, drought and international instability.

With proper care of the land and seas, Alaska has the potential to provide sustenance for generations to come.

Indigenous-led, regenerative practices model how we can respectfully cultivate and harvest in harmony with the environment into the future.⁶ With 663,268 square miles of land and 66,000 miles of coastline, Alaska has the potential to be the model of a healthy regenerative food system with nutrient-dense soil, prime shorelines for kelp and shellfish production, and less pest and disease pressure than in the lower 48. As our climate warms, there are also new opportunities to grow more varieties of crops.

AGRICULTURE There is a growing movement to promote local food production and decrease the state's dependency on imports. The Alaska Food Policy Council and other organizations are working to support local agriculture, fisheries, mariculture, and food businesses that are accessible to all Alaskans. Community gardens, farmers' markets, food hubs, and initiatives to increase food self-sufficiency are gaining momentum and popularity. ⁶ For more information see: https://www.usda.gov/iag#:~:text=%40usda.gov.-,The%20Indigenous%20Animals%20Harvesting%20and%20Meat% 20Processing%20Grant%20Program%20

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While the percentage of food consumed in Alaska that is grown or produced within the state is relatively small, the focus on supporting local agriculture and food production continues to grow, which may lead to an increase in the availability of locally sourced food in the future, enhancing our state’s food security [37].

Alaska's geographic location and climate make it challenging to grow a wide variety of food products locally. Industrial agriculture does not work in Alaska for several reasons including its size, the lack of economies of scale, and big agriculture’s dependence on costly fossil fuel-based inputs. With large distances between communities and relatively small population densities, accessing the necessary food production resources to produce and distribute food is challenging. Supply chain infrastructure, USDA approved processing facilities and access to required regulatory testing facilities are limited, which drives up the cost of local production that in turn is passed on to local community members.

These barriers are why Alaska is primed to demonstrate the resilience and abundance provided by regenerative, organic, smallholder polyculture agriculture.⁷

BENEFITS OF MORE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION By becoming a world leader in small scale ecological farming practices guided by generational Alaska Native knowledge, values, and practices, Alaska can:

EXPAND THE LOCAL ECONOMY. Decrease imports and outflows of our limited local economic base, create new jobs, and increase induced secondary economic benefits of increased local spending and multiplier effects.

BUILD RESILIENCE.

LOWER THE HIGH COST OF FOOD FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. As renewable energy costs drop, so too will the costs of food production, making it more effective to produce food locally, rather than import it. Increased year- round local food production helps offset increasingly unstable prices of imported food, impacted by climate change induced supply chain and production disruptions.

Our northern geographic location positions Alaska to be more resilient to drought, high heat and climate instability that will be impacting our traditional agricultural production centers.

Regenerative local food production sequesters carbon.

IMPROVE HEALTH.

Local food travels shorter distances, producing a smaller carbon footprint in the transportation chain.

Local food improves our physical health, mental health, community health, and the health of our environment.

STABILIZE THE CLIMATE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Regenerative agricultural practices restore the environment, protect salmon habitat, and help support pollinators and fauna.

⁷ For more information on small scale farming in Alaska see: https://alaskafarmersmarkets.org; https://western.sare.org/; https://www.akfoodpolicycouncil.org/ak-food-system-research; https://agalaska.org/

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ACTIONS NEEDED Prioritize the purchase of agricultural land by Alaskans, over outside corporate or foreign interests.

Recognize, honor, and integrate Indigenous land management practices and their ability to increase local sovereignty.

Continue to advocate for the USDA to shift their priorities from supporting large scale monoculture farming to smallholder polyculture farmers.

Increase funding for Processing and Supply Chain Infrastructure.

Increase adoption of renewable energy to decrease local production and processing costs. Support joint projects between solar production and food production.

Provide funding for food system education, starting in elementary school, to increase our awareness of where food comes from, and to build the future food production workforce.

Increase testing infrastructure and staffing to reduce the burden and expense currently put on local producers.

Support innovation and entrepreneurship in the food system to develop solutions.

Bring regulatory requirements in-line with needs and abilities of smaller producers. Promote state and Indigenous led certifications and inspections.

MARICULTURE The growing of sea plants and bivalves — known as mariculture — is accelerating globally. The industry has expanded beyond Asia to Europe and the United States, and although Indigenous peoples have gathered and subsisted on wild kelp for millennia, the rise of interest and activity in ocean kelp farming in Alaska is relatively recent.

Alaska’s nascent kelp industry has grown since 2017 when Alaska’s first commercially farmed seaweed was harvested by two farms near Kodiak for a California-based seaweed food manufacturer. Seagrove Kelp — 100 acres in Doyle Bay, Alaska, near Craig on the island of Prince of Wales in the southern isles of Southeast — now ranks as the country’s largest active seaweed farm.

Last year the Alaska Mariculture Cluster — a coalition that includes the Southeast Conference and Sealaska — received a nearly $49 million Build Back Better grant to expand ocean farming.

PHOTO: MARK TITUS

Nearly a dozen other applications for kelp farms of 100 acres are pending, a process that can take up to three years to complete, submitted by a mix of Alaska, out-of-state, and overseas entities.

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The dots are active kelp farm permits in Alaska.

Source: The Washington Post, July 31, 2023.

KELP FARMING IN ALASKA Alaska's vast coastline and cold, nutrient-rich relatively pristine waters provide ideal conditions for mariculture and kelp farming. In recent years, State and federal agencies have invested in developing Alaska’s mariculture industry, with a focus on increasing production and creating new economic opportunities for coastal communities. Kelp farming has emerged as a promising industry in Alaska, given that it is a fast-growing and sustainable crop that can be harvested multiple times a year. As of 2022, 82 kelp farms were operating in Alaska, and 24 more had permits pending approval [38].

Kelp is a regenerative economic opportunity because of its potential to 1) provide food, animal feedstocks, fertilizer, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and more; 2) mitigate climate effects and reduce ocean acidification; 3) restore damaged ecosystems; and, 4) provide jobs and support local economies.

Kelp can also enhance fisheries by creating habitats for fish species at multiple life cycle stages. For example, it has the potential to restore spawning beds for herring decimated and still not recovered from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.

An Indigenous-led movement to establish a restorative and regenerative kelp industry in coastal Alaska communities is being led by Dune Lankard and the Native Conservancy, which has 10 kelp test sites and a 22-acre research farm in Prince William Sound, as well as by the Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute/Aluutiq Grown. They are working on establishing all aspects of the industry, including growing and sourcing the seed, cultivation, growing, harvesting, adding value, marketing, workforce training, and finding support for purchasing vessels and permits.

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Obstacles to the growth of an Alaska Kelp industry include: Consumer habits. Seaweed is nutritious, but U.S. consumers generally aren’t familiar with kelp as a food source. Juneau-based Barnacle Seafoods, which purchases seaweed from other Southeast growers and grows its own seaweed to make value-added food products, is making kelp more accessible through “gateway” items such as hot sauce, salsa and dark chocolate.

High costs and distance. Kelp farming faces obstacles similar to other Alaska-based enterprises - the high cost of logistics and transportation, and long distances from markets. Additionally, harvesting and processing seaweed can require energy, especially at large scale. The carbon footprint of these activities needs to be considered for a holistic assessment of sustainability.

High entrance costs. The Native Conservancy has set up a program to help any Indigenous kelp farmer get the permits and equipment they need. It started a boat-building business, to make them more affordable. By the time they’re done, 20 Alaska Native kelp farmers should have permits. The national organization GreenWave also offers financial and technical assistance.

Conflicts and impacts. Although the kelp market is currently limited, and none of the Alaska operations have yet reached production at scale, producers hope it will grow. Scaling up to industrial proportions may create conflicts with other uses and harmful effects, rather than being a regenerative addition to the local economy. For example, large-scale seaweed farming can potentially disrupt local ecosystems by altering the balance of marine flora and fauna. Additionally, seaweed farms may compete for space with other marine activities such as fishing or recreational use, leading to conflicts over the use of coastal areas. Therefore, new frameworks are needed to regulate the development of this emerging industry.

To address these challenges, sustainable and responsible seaweed farming practices need to be developed and implemented, taking into account the cultural, ecological, social, and economic context. Regular monitoring, research, and collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities are crucial for the long-term success of seaweed farming initiatives.

With the increasing international focus on kelp as a potential climate solution, Dune Lankard foresees a modern-day land claim rush on the ocean, where Indigenous interests will be displaced and disenfranchised if they don’t align and organize to preserve their inherent rights [39].

ACTIONS NEEDED Write and promote a new act governing mariculture and aquaculture development that ensures the rights of local communities and Indigenous inhabitants.

Authorize nearby communities to create cultural easements and Locally Managed Marine Protected Areas for the waters around their communities, and require developers to obtain the free, prior and informed consent from Tribes utilizing those waters and resources.

SHELLFISH MARICULTURE Shellfish farming is a non-extractive way to produce food in the ocean and sustain local economies. Species being cultivated in Alaska include oysters, clams, mussels, and other seafood products [40].

Pacific oysters are the primary species farmed in Alaska’s planktonrich waters, which are too cold for the oysters to spawn naturally.

All oysters are grown from spat, either imported from hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest or from one of Alaska’s shellfish hatcheries, such as OceansAlaska in Ketchikan or Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute

in Seward, which raises oysters, geoducks, clams, and other shellfish.

Alaska’s cold waters give the industry some advantages, such as being able to produce high-quality oysters year-round. On the other hand, shellfish farming faces many challenges, including high transportation costs and infrastructure, and few existing farms provide enough income to support a family. Cooperative or community owned enterprises, such as the Kachemak Bay Oyster Co-op, may provide a path forward [41].

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FISHERIES ACTIONS NEEDED Further limit by-catch.

Pass reforms to the Magnuson-Stevens Act including additional limits on by-catch quotas and the addition of two seats for Alaska Natives on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Alaska’s fisheries, which have long played a significant role in Alaskans’ lives and the state’s economy, appear increasingly fragile.

Major species have crashed in recent decades, including halibut, crab and some species of salmon. Climate change and acidification are impacting ocean health and impacting subsistence, personal use, sport and commercial fisheries throughout the state. Decades of industrial overfishing and by-catch waste from ocean-bottom trawlers also appear to be contributing factors to the declines [42].

Research indicates that warming ocean temperatures make fish habitats less suitable, leading to changing populations and different ecosystems, and the potential loss of fish species. Climate change has influenced the survival, migration patterns and overall productivity of several anadromous salmon species including chinook, sockeye and coho. Rising water temperatures can negatively affect egg and juvenile survival rates [43].

According to climate.gov, Alaska's fertile coastal waters are particularly vulnerable to acidification due to a combination of cold water, which absorbs more carbon dioxide than warm water, and ocean circulation patterns that bring naturally acidic deep ocean waters to the surface.

The decline of salmon on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers caused the closure of subsistence fisheries in 2021 and 2022, forcing the state to fly in thousands of pounds of frozen fish to remote villages for the first time.

The recent massive near-total collapse in snow crab in the Bering Sea was attributed by NOAA to a 2019 marine heat wave in the North Pacific, which led to multi-year shut-downs of the snow crab fishery [44].

King salmon sport fishing was closed or restricted on multiple rivers and saltwater areas around Cook Inlet in 2023, due to forecasts for escapement numbers being lower than their goals [45].

Meanwhile, the fleet of nearly 250 trawl boats in the Bering Sea, mostly based in Washington state, was permitted to take between 3 and 4 billion pounds of fish annually for worldwide distribution. These massive trawlers drag nets across the sea bottom to catch groundfish such as pollock. During the operations they also scoop up millions of pounds of other species such as salmon and crab, called “by-catch,” of which most is thrown overboard, as well as causing disruption and damage to the seabed floor and life there [46].

More needs to be done to regulate trawling and by-catch in the Bering Sea. Marine mammals also face major threats from warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and decreasing sea ice volumes associated with climate change.

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lands and waters, and put at risk local residents who subsist on resources such as plants and fish that have been found to contain elevated levels of cadmium and lead. The Red Dog mine has been almost continuously out of compliance with federal air and water quality laws since operations began, and has released large quantities of lead, mercury, and cadmium over the years.

How toxicants harm health.

MINING AS THE PUSH TO MINE IN REMOTE AREAS OF ALASKA INTENSIFIES, NEW LAWS ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT Inadequately regulated mining for strategic minerals is not a solution for climate change.

HARD ROCK MINING HARMS HUMANS, WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Historically, mines make and leave a mess, while adding little or nothing to the public treasury. Mines release huge amounts of toxic chemicals that pollute surface and ground waters, lands and air, displace wildlife, and destroy Indigenous sacred sites.

As the clean energy transition increases demand for some minerals, sourcing those minerals in the most sustainable and ethical way possible is a top priority.

Alaskans’ health has been compromised by existing and past mining operations.⁸ The toxicants produced by mines, like the Red Dog zinc-lead mine in the Northwest Arctic, have contaminated air,

Lead and mercury are neurodevelopmental toxicants of which there is no acceptable level of exposure. Mercury is especially damaging to the developing brain that can cause life-long harm; its impacts include neurological impairment, IQ loss, and damage to the kidneys and cardiovascular system. Lead causes neurobehavioral disorders and a significant reduction in cognitive capacity in children due to impaired levels of attention, concentration and memory. Cadmium is carcinogenic and linked to numerous human health problems including endocrine disruption, an increased incidence of renal pathologies, osteoporosis, leukemia and hypertension [47].

In addition to the Red Dog zinc-lead mine, the four other major operating mines extract gold (Fort Knox, Pogo, Kensington) or silver (Greens Creek). All five mines – 100% - have experienced at least one major spill or other accidental release of hazardous materials such as mine tailings, cyanide solution, diesel fuel and ore concentrate. Four of the five mines – 80% - failed to capture or control contaminated mine water, resulting in water quality violations that often occur over an extended period. Four out of five mines – 80% - have been identified by EPA as out of compliance with federal laws to protect clean air or water in recent years [48].

The EPA Toxics Release Inventory demonstrates that the metals mining industry is the largest toxic polluter in the United States. Alaska leads the nation in toxic releases reported to the TRI, largely as a result of the pollution from five mining operations including the Red Dog zinc-lead mine, the Fort Knox gold mine, the Pogo gold mine, Kensington gold mine and Greens Creek silver mine according to the analysis.

MINIMIZING HARM FROM MINING Mining must be done in a way that minimizes harm to individuals, communities, fisheries, wildlife and the ecosystem, while also providing a fair return to the public treasury. This is not currently occurring and must be corrected before additional mining commences. ⁸ For more information see Red Dog and Subsistence: Analysis of Reports on Elevated Levels of Heavy Metals in Plants Used for Subsistence Near Red Dog Mine, Alaska | ACAT

Not all minerals are critical.

The growing global demand for “critical” minerals has increased incentives to pursue mining. Some of these minerals are needed for manufacturing renewable energy technologies, energy storage and electric mobility systems. As defined by the Department of Interior, specific critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements, and do not include gold, copper, zinc and silver. Alaska has deposits of several critical minerals in varying stages of exploration and development, but none are in large-scale development or production.

Current policies promoting mining in the states reflect the United States’ heavy dependence on foreign nations—in some cases non-allied nations such as China—to produce and refine many of the minerals that are considered critical to economic and national security. It should be noted that nearly all of the ore currently mined in Alaska is sent out of the state, often overseas, for processing, so additional remote mines without processing facilities may not help address national security issues with the mineral supply chain [49].

The opportunity to recover metals in landfills and through recycling of electronic and other waste should be pursued as a priority to obtain critical minerals, rather than opening new mines.

Federal agencies recommend change.

A large federal Interagency Working Group recently concluded a review directed by President Biden’s Executive Order #14017 and made recommendations to improve mining on public lands [50]. The report shows that the current status quo of mining laws and regulations is woefully inadequate to protect communities, cultural resources and clean water.

The Interagency Working Group report calls for long-sought solutions to modernize hard rock mining and address historic inequities by calling for a leasing system, instituting royalties to help clean up abandoned mines, and frontloading consultation with Tribes to ensure the protection of sacred sites and mining-impacted communities. Changes to Alaska’s state laws and regulations also are necessary to meet the demands of modern realities and protect communities and the environment.

ACTIONS NEEDED Congress should immediately update the antiquated General Mining Law of 1872, a Reconstruction Era law promoting free access to minerals on federal land, to address current realities.

The Biden Administration should immediately undertake a rulemaking process to modernize hard rock mining regulations and improve oversight on public lands.

In accomplishing these actions, Congress and the Biden Administration should strengthen community and environmental protections and mandate robust tribal consultation as prerequisite steps to help meet the country’s mineral demand to support the clean energy transition in the most sustainable way possible.

Public funds should be allocated to increase assessment, monitoring, enforcement and prevention of toxic pollution from existing mines.

Clean Water Act loopholes that allow mine waste to be dumped into our rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands should be closed. Mining corporations should be accountable for responsible cleanup of mine waste and should be required to pay a bond to cover costs of cleanup. The permitting of mines that require treatment of toxic mining waste in perpetuity should not be allowed.

New proposed mine sites should be adequately reviewed for impacts to the environment, health, safety, and communities before they are allowed to proceed. The free, prior and informed consent from tribes should be required.

A new state law governing mining operations should be enacted to update and expand Alaska Statutes Title 30.

The Alaska Mining License Tax, which is imposed on mining operations within the state, should be revised to capture a greater share of income for the state treasury, commensurate with the expense of increased regulation. Mining revenues to the state are projected to be only 0.4% ($61 million) of FY23 total state revenues [51].

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WHAT ACTIONS ARE NEEDED TO GROW ALASKA’S REGENERATIVE ECONOMIES? REDIRECT PUBLIC RESOURCES FROM EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TO REGENERATIVE INVESTMENTS.

ELECT LEADERS WHO CHAMPION A REGENERATIVE VISION FOR ALASKA’S FUTURE.

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END NOTES

[12] Doerrer, M. (2023, January 3). Can the Inflation Reduction Act unlock a green hydrogen economy? International Council on Clean Transportation. https://theicct.org/ira-unlock-green-hydrogen-jan23/ [13] Beacon MM. (2022, January 20). Barriers to broadband access for rural Alaska. Quintillion. https://www.quintillionglobal.com/barriers-to-broadband-access-forrural-alaska-communities/

[1] Program, U. S. G. C. R. (2023). Fifth national climate assessment (pp. 1–470). U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC. https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/29/ [2] Program, U. S. G. C. R. (2023). Fifth national climate assessment (pp. 1–470).

[3] Ar6 synthesis report: Climate change 2023 — ipcc. (n.d.).

Retrieved December 3, 2023, from https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixthassessment-report-cycle/ [4] Program, U. S. G. C. R. (2023). Fifth national climate assessment (pp. 1–470).

[14] The prerequisite of connectivity—How will investments in broadband and internet contribute to the success of energy transition initiatives in Appalachia? (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2023, from http://www.glawcal.org.uk/news/the-prerequisite-of-connectivityhow-will-investments-in-broadband-and-internet-contribute-to-thesuccess-of-energy-transition-initiatives-in-appalachia [15] Internet access in Alaska: Stats & figures. (n.d.). BroadbandNow. Retrieved December 3, 2023, from https://broadbandnow.com/Alaska [16] Alaska Broadband Office. (2023). Digital Equity Plan Draft for Public Comment. Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/19/pub/DRAFT%20-%20State%20of%20Alaska%20Digital%20Equity%20Plan.pdf

[5] Brown, K., & Wier, C. (2022). Alaska’s Renewable Energy Future: New Jobs, Affordable Energy. Alaska Climate Alliance – Regenerative Economies Working Group. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uMojCEVwoccJf1seK_BkXcJ9qrVCfiq A/view [17] Alaska Broadband Office. (2023). Digital Equity Plan Draft for Public Comment. Department of Commerce, Community, and [6] Schroeder, K. (2023, May 26). Governor Dunleavy signs bill to Economic Development. continue renewable energy grant fund. https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/19/pub/DRAFT%20https://gov.alaska.gov/governor-dunleavy-signs-bill-to-continue-%20State%20of%20Alaska%20Digital%20Equity%20Plan.pdf renewable-energy-grant-fund/ [18] Tribal broadband connectivity program | broadbandusa. (n.d.).

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