A significant oil and gas drilling project in Alaska that was opposed vehemently by environmentalists has been approved by US President Joe Biden.

ConocoPhillips, the corporation behind the Willow project, claims it will attract local investment and generate thousands of employment.

But in recent weeks, there has been a flood of online activism against the $8 billion (£6.6 billion) proposal, especially among young activists on TikTok.

Its effects on the climate and fauna led opponents to suggest that it should be stopped.

It is the largest oil development in the area in decades and could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil per day. It is situated on Alaska’s isolated North Slope.

It means that throughout the course of its 30-year lifespan, it might produce up to 278 million metric tonnes of CO2e, according to projections from the US Bureau of Land Management.