Greenpeace is a global group that works to protect the environment. It was started in Canada in 1971 by people who care about nature. Greenpeace says its goal is to help Earth support all living things. It focuses on problems like climate change, cutting down forests, catching too many fish, hunting whales, using genetic engineering, opposing war, and stopping the use of nuclear energy. To reach its goals, Greenpeace uses actions like protests, research, and peaceful demonstrations. The group has 26 separate organizations in more than 55 countries across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. These groups are led by Greenpeace International, which is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Greenpeace does not take money from governments, companies, or political groups. Instead, it gets support from about three million people and donations from foundations. Greenpeace has special permission from the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is part of the INGO Accountability Charter, which helps keep non-governmental organizations honest and clear in their work.

Greenpeace is known for peaceful actions to raise awareness about environmental issues. It has helped people learn about important problems and influenced businesses and governments. However, some people have criticized Greenpeace. For example, more than 100 Nobel Prize winners wrote a letter asking Greenpeace to stop its work against genetically modified organisms.

Greenpeace’s actions have sometimes led to legal problems. In March 2025, a jury in North Dakota said Greenpeace was responsible for more than $660 million in damages and harm to the reputation of others because of the Standing Rock Protests from 2016 to 2017 against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Activists also faced fines and suspended sentences for damaging a test field of genetically modified wheat. In Peru, the government said activists were punished for harming the Nazca Lines, which is a special place protected by the United Nations.

History

In the late 1960s, the United States planned to test an underground nuclear weapon on Amchitka, an island in Alaska with unstable ground. This plan worried some people because they feared the test might cause earthquakes or tsunamis. About 7,000 people protested at the Peace Arch Border Crossing between British Columbia and Washington. They carried signs with messages like "Don't Make A Wave. It's Your Fault If Our Fault Goes" and "Stop My Ark's Not Finished." The protests did not stop the United States from carrying out the test.

No earthquake or tsunami happened after the test, but opposition grew when the United States announced plans to test a bomb five times more powerful. Jim Bohlen, a U.S. Navy veteran, and Irving and Dorothy Stowe, who became Quakers, opposed the test. They were upset that the Sierra Club Canada, a group they belonged to, did not act. Jim Bohlen learned about a peaceful protest method called "bearing witness," where people protest by simply being present. Jim Bohlen’s wife, Marie, suggested sailing to Amchitka, inspired by anti-nuclear voyages from the past. This idea was reported in the press and linked to the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club did not want this connection, so the Don't Make a Wave Committee was formed in 1970. Early meetings took place at the home of Robert and Bobbi Hunter. Later, the Stowe home in Vancouver became the group’s headquarters. Rex Weyler, a Greenpeace historian, said the Stowes’ home would become a global center for environmental action. The first Greenpeace office was in a small store in Kitsilano, Vancouver. Within six months, Greenpeace moved to share space with another environmental group.

Irving Stowe organized a concert in Vancouver on October 16, 1970, with support from Joan Baez. The concert raised money for Greenpeace’s first campaign. Using this money, the Don't Make a Wave Committee chartered a ship, the Phyllis Cormack, which was renamed Greenpeace after a term created by activist Bill Darnell. The crew included Captain John Cormack, Jim Bohlen, Bill Darnell, Patrick Moore, and others.

On September 15, 1971, the ship sailed toward Amchitka but was stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard ship Confidence. The crew turned back due to bad weather and news that the Confidence had supported their cause. This gained public sympathy. Greenpeace tried to reach Amchitka with other ships until the United States tested the bomb. The test was criticized, and the United States stopped testing at Amchitka.

Environmental historian Frank Zelko says the Don't Make a Wave Committee was formed in 1969. Jim Bohlen says the group officially adopted the name on November 28, 1969. Greenpeace’s website says the committee was formed in 1970, and its official records show incorporation on October 5, 1970. Researcher Vanessa Timmer says the official start was 1971. Greenpeace calls the 1971 protest voyage the beginning. Patrick Moore, an early member, and Rex Weyler say the name changed to Greenpeace Foundation in 1972.

Vanessa Timmer called early members "a loosely organized group." Frank Zelko said Greenpeace grew slowly, unlike other groups with clear founders. Greenpeace says no one person started it, and many people claim to have helped. Patrick Moore and Rex Weyler say Greenpeace was always a work in progress, not something definitively founded.

Greenpeace’s website lists Dorothy and Irving Stowe, Marie and Jim Bohlen, Ben and Dorothy Metcalfe, and Robert Hunter as founders. Others, like Patrick Moore and Dorothy Stowe, say Paul Cote, Irving and Dorothy Stowe, and Jim and Marie Bohlen were founders. Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, claims he was also a founder, but Greenpeace says he was an early member, not a founder. Patrick Moore, who was on the first protest voyage, also claims to be a founder, though Greenpeace says he was not.

After using the Stowe home and the concert, Greenpeace moved to other homes and held weekly meetings in Kitsilano. In 1974, they settled in a shared office with the SPEC group. When the Amchitka tests ended, Greenpeace focused on French nuclear tests at Moruroa Atoll. They got help from David McTaggart, a New Zealander, who renamed his yacht Greenpeace III for a protest. The French Navy tried to stop the protest, and McTaggart was injured. After the incident was publicized, France stopped its atmospheric tests.

In the mid-1970s, some Greenpeace members started a campaign called Project Ahab to stop commercial whaling, as Irving Stowe wanted Greenpeace to focus on nuclear issues.

Organizational structure

Greenpeace is made up of Greenpeace International, officially called Stichting Greenpeace Council, which is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and 25 regional offices that operate in 55 countries. Each regional office works mostly independently but is guided by Greenpeace International. The executive director of Greenpeace is chosen by the board members of Greenpeace International. The current international executive director is Mads Flarup Christensen, and the current chair of the board is David Tong. Greenpeace has 2,400 employees and about 15,000 volunteers worldwide.

Each regional office is led by a regional executive director, who is elected by the regional board of directors. The regional boards also select a trustee to attend the Greenpeace International Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, trustees choose or remove the board of directors of Greenpeace International. The meeting also discusses and decides on important principles and strategies for Greenpeace, working together with the trustees from regional offices and the Greenpeace International board.

Greenpeace gets its money from individual supporters and foundations. It carefully checks all large donations to ensure they are not unwanted. Greenpeace does not accept money from governments, international organizations, political parties, or corporations to avoid outside influence. It also refuses donations from foundations that are supported by political parties, receive most of their money from governments or international organizations, or set unreasonable conditions that could limit Greenpeace’s independence or goals.

In the mid-1990s, the number of supporters began to drop, so Greenpeace started using face-to-face fundraising. Fundraisers visit public places to find new supporters and ask them to donate monthly through direct bank transfers. In 2008, most of the €202.5 million Greenpeace received came from about 2.6 million regular supporters, mostly in Europe. In 2014, the organization’s annual revenue was about €300 million (US$400 million), but it lost about €4 million (US$5 million) due to currency trading that year.

In September 2003, Public Interest Watch (PIW) told the Internal Revenue Service that Greenpeace US’s tax returns were incorrect and illegal. After a detailed review, the IRS concluded in December 2005 that Greenpeace USA still qualified for its tax-exempt status. In March 2006, The Wall Street Journal reported that PIW’s tax filing for 2003–2004 stated that $120,000 of the $124,095 the group received during that time came from ExxonMobil. In 2013, after a follow-up IRS audit found no issues, Greenpeace U.S. executive director Phil Radford asked Congress to investigate all politically motivated IRS audits, including those targeting the Tea Party Movement, the NAACP, and Greenpeace.

In 2009, International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo called the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference a “colossal failure” and said Greenpeace faced a “burning platform” moment. He encouraged Greenpeace’s international leaders to adopt new strategies or risk becoming irrelevant.

To carry out a new strategy approved in 2010, Greenpeace hired Michael Silberman in 2011 to create a “Digital Mobilisation Centre of Excellence,” which became the Mobilisation Lab (“MobLab”). The MobLab focused on sharing best practices, testing new ideas, and developing strategies. It also aimed to improve digital tools and support community-based campaigns in 42 countries. In March 2017, the MobLab became an independent organization through a joint investment by Greenpeace and CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

Climate and energy

Greenpeace was one of the first groups to create a plan for sustainable development to reduce climate change in 1993. Sociologists Marc Mormont and Christine Dasnoy said Greenpeace helped people understand global warming better during the 1990s. The group also focused on CFCs because they contribute to global warming and harm the ozone layer. Greenpeace was a major supporter of stopping the use of ozone-depleting substances in the Montreal Protocol. In the early 1990s, Greenpeace worked with refrigerator companies to develop a CFC-free refrigerator technology called "Greenfreeze" for mass production. In 1997, the United Nations Environment Programme honored Greenpeace for helping protect the Earth's ozone layer. By 2011, two-fifths of the world's refrigerators used Greenfreeze technology, with over 600 million units in use.

Today, Greenpeace believes global warming is the biggest environmental problem. It calls for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2015 and drop close to zero by 2050. Greenpeace urges industrialized countries to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. It also asks these countries to help developing nations build clean energy, adapt to climate change, and stop deforestation by 2020. Greenpeace and EREC created a global energy plan called "Energy [R]evolution," aiming for 80% of the world's energy to come from renewable sources by 2050. This would reduce energy sector emissions by over 80% compared to 1990 levels.

Greenpeace members have used direct action to protest against coal by occupying power plants, blocking coal shipments, and stopping mining operations in places like New Zealand, Svalbard, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The group also opposes oil extraction from oil sands and has blocked operations at the Athabasca oil sands in Canada.

In 1999, Greenpeace Germany started a renewable electricity cooperative called Greenpeace Energy. It later began selling fossil gas in 2011. After criticism in 2021 about selling fossil fuels, the cooperative changed its name to Green Planet Energy. Greenpeace Germany still owns one share in the company, which has been accused of promoting "greenwashing" Russian gas.

In 2007, six Greenpeace protesters were arrested for breaking into the Kingsnorth power station in England. They climbed a 200-meter smokestack, painted the name "Gordon" on the chimney (a reference to former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown), and caused about £30,000 in damage. At their trial, they admitted trying to shut the station down but argued it was legal because they wanted to prevent climate change damage. Experts, including climate scientist James E. Hansen and an Inuk leader, testified about climate change's global effects. The six activists were acquitted, marking the first time a "lawful excuse" defense based on climate change was used in court. The acquittal was criticized by some media as an embarrassment to the UK government. In 2008, The New York Times listed the acquittal as one of the year's most influential ideas.

Greenpeace launched the "Go Beyond Oil" campaign to reduce and end global oil use. The campaign targets companies involved in oil drilling, especially in the Arctic and areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Activities include protests against Cairn Energy, an oil and gas company based in Edinburgh, and pressuring governments to stop oil exploration. Greenpeace says the campaign aims to expose the oil industry's efforts to extract oil and push for alternatives to oil.

Greenpeace opposes nuclear power, calling it "dangerous, polluting, expensive, and non-renewable." It cites the Chernobyl disaster (1986) and the Fukushima disaster (2011) as examples of nuclear power's risks to people, the environment, and the economy. Greenpeace argues that nuclear energy's benefits are small compared to its problems, such as environmental damage, risks from uranium mining, nuclear weapons proliferation, and unresolved nuclear waste issues. It claims that increasing nuclear power would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by less than 5% by 2050, even if nuclear capacity grew significantly. Greenpeace says this is unrealistic due to slow construction times, delays, and hidden costs. It also argues that investing in nuclear power could take funding away from better solutions. The construction of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear plant in Finland is an example of the challenges in building new nuclear power.

In 2022, Greenpeace threatened to sue the European Union after it labeled nuclear power as a "green" technology that helps reduce CO2 emissions. Greenpeace celebrated Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power in 2023, even though Germany was relying heavily on coal and gas for energy at the time.

In 1994, Greenpeace published an anti-nuclear newspaper ad claiming that nuclear facilities in Sellafield would kill 2,000 people in 10 years and showed a child with hydrocephalus said to be a victim of nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. The Advertising Standards Authority banned the ad, calling the Sellafield claim unsubstantiated. Greenpeace did not admit fault, stating a Kazakhstan doctor had linked the child's condition to nuclear testing, even though no nuclear tests occur at Sellafield.

In 2011, a French court fined Électricité de France (EDF) €1.5 million and jailed two senior employees for spying on Greenpeace, including hacking into its systems. Greenpeace received €500,000 in damages. EDF claimed it had hired a security firm to monitor Greenpeace, but the court ruled against this, sentencing two EDF employees to three years in prison. EDF appealed the conviction and was later cleared of conspiracy charges, and the fine was canceled. Two employees of the security firm, Kargus, were not mentioned in the original text.

Forest campaign

Greenpeace works to protect primary forests from being cut down or damaged, with a goal of stopping all deforestation by 2020. The group has accused companies like Unilever, Nike, KFC, Kit Kat, and McDonald's of being connected to the destruction of tropical rainforests. This led to changes in policies at some of these companies. Greenpeace, along with other environmental organizations, spent ten years trying to convince the European Union to stop importing illegal timber. The EU agreed to this ban in July 2010. Since deforestation helps cause global warming, Greenpeace has pushed for including REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) in climate agreements after the Kyoto Protocol.

Greenpeace also focuses on stopping the expansion of palm oil production, especially in Indonesia. Currently, 6 million hectares (23,000 square miles) of land are used for palm oil plantations, with plans to add 4 million hectares (15,000 square miles) by 2015. Greenpeace warns that large-scale palm oil production harms forest biodiversity and is working to encourage industries and governments to use other energy sources. One result of this effort was that GAR, the second-largest palm oil company, agreed to protect forests by avoiding development in areas with high carbon storage.

In 2016, Greenpeace created a viral video criticizing Nestlé for using palm oil in Kit Kat bars. The video received over 1 million views and led Nestlé to say it would no longer use such practices. In 2018, Greenpeace released an animated short featuring a fictional orangutan named Rang-tan for World Orangutan Day. However, UK’s Clearcast denied a version of the video submitted by Iceland Foods Ltd.

In 1995, Greenpeace took a tree trunk from a forest in Finland’s proposed Koitajoki national park and displayed it in Austria and Germany. Greenpeace claimed the tree came from a logged area in an ancient forest meant for protection. Metsähallitus, a Finnish government agency, accused Greenpeace of theft, stating the tree was from a normal forest that had not been protected and had fallen during a storm. Greenpeace responded that the tree’s fall was due to nearby logging and aimed to highlight the dangers to old forests. Later, Metsähallitus acknowledged the forest’s value and now refers to Koitajoki as a unique area with old-growth forests.

A 2018 Greenpeace investigation found that Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, was still linked to deforestation in Indonesia’s Papua province. A connected company, Gama, caused deforestation twice the size of Paris. Greenpeace criticized Wilmar for breaking its 2013 promise to stop deforestation and use sustainable palm oil practices. Greenpeace linked Gama’s palm oil to global brands like Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, and Unilever.

Resolute Forest Products, a logging company, has sued Greenpeace multiple times since 2013. In 2020, a California court ordered Resolute to pay $816,000 to Greenpeace to cover legal costs after a 2019 lawsuit failed. Greenpeace claims Resolute’s activities harm Canada’s Boreal Forest, which holds more carbon than tropical forests and is vital to protecting the global climate.

Tokyo Two

In 2008, two Greenpeace anti-whaling activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, took a case of whale meat from a warehouse in Aomori prefecture, Japan. They did this to show what they believed was the wrongful use of meat collected during whale hunts. After a short investigation, Sato and Suzuki were charged with stealing and entering a place without permission. Amnesty International stated that the arrests and later searches of Greenpeace Japan's office and the homes of five Greenpeace staff members were meant to scare activists and non-governmental organizations. In September 2010, the Aomori District Court found Sato and Suzuki guilty of stealing and trespassing.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Greenpeace supported Zambia’s decision to reject genetically modified (GM) food from the United States during a time of severe hunger, as long as non-GM grain was available. Greenpeace encouraged the U.S. to allow aid recipients to choose their food aid, including the option to buy locally. This approach, Greenpeace said, could help developing countries grow stronger and improve food security. Greenpeace also stated that if no other options were available, GM maize should be milled so it could not be planted. This condition allowed neighboring countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi to accept the GM food aid.

After Zambia banned all GM food aid, the country’s former agricultural minister questioned how international organizations that supported the government’s decision would explain the consequences of their actions. Greenpeace explained that if no non-GM aid was available, Zambia should have accepted GM food. However, the Zambian government chose to refuse the aid. Greenpeace shared its opinion with the government, but the government ignored the advice.

In 2007, Greenpeace funded research by Gilles-Éric Séralini on MON 863 genetically engineered maize. The study claimed the maize caused health problems in rats. However, the European Food Safety Authority and the French Commission du Génie Biomoléculaire (AFBV) found serious errors in the research methods. Later research by Séralini on GMOs faced criticism for scientific fraud, and his publications were retracted.

In 2007, Greenpeace also publicized results from research by Árpád Pusztai, which were later retracted.

Greenpeace opposes the use of golden rice, a type of genetically engineered rice designed to produce beta-carotene, a substance that helps prevent blindness in areas with poor nutrition. Greenpeace argues that golden rice has not solved malnutrition in 10 years, even though other methods already address the issue. Instead, Greenpeace suggests reducing the practice of growing only one type of crop and increasing the production of naturally nutrient-rich foods. Greenpeace believes resources should support programs that are already helping reduce malnutrition. Concerns about golden rice resurfaced in 2016 with the release of a new version called "golden rice 2," developed by Syngenta. Greenpeace criticized this version, saying the project was driven by profit and aimed at promoting GMOs.

Greenpeace has expressed concerns about the effectiveness of golden rice since 2001, and in 2005, it continued to worry about the safety of GMO crops like golden rice. Greenpeace has raised questions about the lack of safety testing for GMO crops and warned against using golden rice to promote more GMOs. In 2016, 107 Nobel Laureates wrote an open letter urging Greenpeace to stop opposing genetically modified crops and golden rice. They asked governments to support farmers’ access to modern agricultural tools. The letter stated that opposition based on emotion or belief without evidence should end. Greenpeace responded by saying claims that it is blocking access to golden rice are false. It emphasized supporting climate-resilient farming methods and helping farmers access healthy, balanced diets instead of investing in genetically engineered "golden" rice.

Toxic waste

In July 2011, Greenpeace published a report called Dirty Laundry. The report said some of the world's largest clothing and sportswear companies were polluting China's rivers with harmful chemicals. The report described how the textile industry in China causes water pollution by releasing toxic chemicals. Greenpeace studied wastewater from two factories in China: one owned by Youngor Group near the Yangtze River Delta and another owned by Well Dyeing Factory Ltd. near a smaller river that flows into the Pearl River Delta. Tests of water from these factories found harmful chemicals that can disrupt hormones, such as alkylphenols, perfluorinated compounds, and perfluorooctane sulfonate. The report also stated that Youngor Group and Well Dyeing Factory Ltd. work with many major clothing brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Calvin Klein, H&M, Nike, and others.

In 2013, Greenpeace started the Detox Fashion campaign. This campaign encouraged clothing companies to stop releasing toxic chemicals into rivers during clothing production. The campaign helped many global brands agree to remove harmful chemicals, like nonylphenol ethoxylates, from their supply chains. It also highlighted the larger problem of water pollution from textile manufacturing and encouraged companies to be more open about their practices and to aim for zero chemical discharge.

In August 2006, Greenpeace released the first edition of Guide to Greener Electronics, a magazine that ranked companies that make computers and mobile phones based on how green their products are. The rankings focused on whether companies used toxic materials and how they handled old electronics. In November 2011, the criteria for the guide were updated because the industry had changed since 2006. The new goals included reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using 100% renewable energy, creating long-lasting products without harmful substances, and improving sustainable practices. Greenpeace only uses public information from companies to rank them. To check if companies follow their own policies, Greenpeace uses chemical tests, reports from other experts, media stories, and consumer programs. Since the guide was first published in 2006, many companies have improved by removing toxic chemicals from their products and improving recycling programs. The last version of the guide was published in 2017 and included 17 major IT companies. These companies were ranked based on their use of energy, how they use resources, and how well they eliminate harmful chemicals.

Save the Arctic

In 2012 and 2013, protests with "Save the Arctic" signs began as part of a campaign to protect the Arctic environment. Activists demanded that world leaders create a "global sanctuary" in the Arctic to stop oil and gas drilling, industrial fishing, and military activities. They asked the United Nations to pass a resolution showing concern for the Arctic’s wildlife and ecosystems. In September 2013, 30 Greenpeace activists were arrested by Russian authorities while protesting at an oil platform. They were initially charged with piracy but later faced lesser charges before all charges were dropped due to an amnesty law.

In July 2014, Greenpeace started a campaign to pressure Lego to stop making toys with the logo of the oil company Shell. This was in response to Shell’s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic. A video titled "LEGO: Everything is NOT awesome" was shared online and viewed over 9 million times. The video criticized the partnership between Lego and Shell, which began in the 1960s. Lego created a fictional oil company called Octan, which appears in many of its products, including games and movies.

A conflict arose between Greenpeace and the Norwegian government over oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean. In 2013, three Greenpeace activists dressed as bears climbed onto a Statoil oil rig. They stayed for about three hours before being escorted off. Statoil did not plan to take legal action against them. Greenpeace claimed that Statoil’s drilling plans threatened Bear Island, a wildlife sanctuary with rare species like polar bears. They argued that cleaning up an oil spill in the Arctic would be extremely difficult due to harsh conditions. Statoil denied these claims, stating it respects legal protests and believes its operations are safe.

On May 27, 2014, Greenpeace’s ship, MV Esperanza, blocked the Statoil oil rig Transocean Spitsbergen in the Barents Sea, stopping its operations. Greenpeace activists were later removed by Norwegian police, but no fines were imposed. The Norwegian government allowed the coast guard to tow the Greenpeace ship after activists collected over 80,000 signatures in support of their cause.

Norwegian police said Greenpeace ignored warnings to stop interfering with Statoil’s activities, which violated Norwegian law. Statoil estimated that delays in drilling cost the company about $1.26 million per day. The company planned to drill three oil wells in the Arctic in 2014. Greenpeace continues to criticize Statoil for "greenwashing," claiming the company hides its risky drilling projects by supporting programs like the FIRST Lego League and diverting attention from environmental issues.

Moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters

Greenpeace has partnered with other environmental groups to ask for a pause on deep sea mining projects approved by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which operates under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Greenpeace states that exploring and mining for polymetallic nodules could harm the oceans, which absorb one-quarter of the world's carbon emissions each year. The group also says deep sea mining harms the homes of newly discovered species, including crabs, whales, and snails that live near glowing underwater vents and do not eat. Greenpeace has asked the ISA to improve rules based on UNCLOS Article 136, which says the ocean's resources belong to all people, to better protect the sea. A 2018 report from Greenpeace Research Laboratories highlighted the need to protect ocean life from harmful substances released during mining for natural gas and rare metals used in solar panels.

Greenpeace believes the ISA, which supports mining, is not the right group to manage deep sea mining. In 2019, Greenpeace activists protested outside the ISA's annual meeting in Jamaica, demanding a global agreement to stop mining in protected ocean areas. Some activists traveled to Jamaica on Greenpeace's ship, the Esperanza, which came from the "Lost City in the mid-Atlantic," a region Greenpeace says is at risk from mining activities.

Alternative economy

Greenpeace supports different ways of living and working that are better for people and the Earth. The group believes the current way of doing things is harmful to people and the planet, so it works with communities, schools, and other groups to find better solutions.

Ships

Since Greenpeace was founded, ships have been important in its campaigns. Greenpeace has rented additional ships when needed. During the organization's 2008–11 campaign to stop trawling in the North Sea, at least one ship not owned by Greenpeace was used. This ship placed large rocks on the seafloor and shared updated maps with local officials showing where the rocks were placed.

• Rainbow Warrior is the third ship to have this name. It was launched in 2011 and is sometimes called Rainbow Warrior III.
• MV Arctic Sunrise
• SY Witness

In 1978, Greenpeace launched the first Rainbow Warrior, a 40-meter (130-foot) ship that was once a fishing boat. The ship was named after the book Warriors of the Rainbow, which inspired early activist Robert Hunter during a voyage to Amchitka. Greenpeace bought the ship, originally named Sir William Hardy, for £40,000. Volunteers repaired and refitted it over four months. The ship was first used to stop Iceland’s whaling fleet. It became a key part of Greenpeace’s work. Between 1978 and 1985, the ship’s crew took action against ocean dumping of toxic and radioactive waste, the grey seal hunt in Orkney, and nuclear testing in the Pacific. In May 1985, the ship helped evacuate about 300 people from Rongelap Atoll, where nuclear fallout from a U.S. test decades earlier had caused serious health problems.

Later in 1985, the Rainbow Warrior led a group of protest ships near Moruroa Atoll, where France tested nuclear weapons. The ship was destroyed when the French government secretly attacked it in Auckland harbor, following orders from François Mitterrand. The attack killed Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira, who entered the ship after a small explosion to retrieve his photos but drowned in a larger explosion. The attack caused a public relations crisis for France after New Zealand police quickly uncovered it. In 1987, France paid New Zealand NZ$13 million in compensation and formally apologized. France also paid ₣2.3 million to Pereira’s family. In 2001, when Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research called Greenpeace “eco-terrorists,” Gert Leipold, then Greenpeace’s executive director, said this label insulted people harmed by real terrorism, including Pereira, who was killed in the 1985 attack.

In 1989, Greenpeace built a new Rainbow Warrior ship, sometimes called Rainbow Warrior II. It stopped being used on August 16, 2011, and was replaced by the third version. In 2005, the Rainbow Warrior II ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines while checking for coral bleaching. Greenpeace was fined $7,000 for damaging the reef and agreed to pay the fine, saying it was responsible. Greenpeace claimed the Philippine government had given it outdated maps. The reef’s manager praised Greenpeace for quickly assessing the damage.

• MV Sirius
• MV Solo
• MV Greenpeace
• MV Gondwana
• MV Beluga (in German)
• MV Esperanza

Reactions and responses to Greenpeace activities

Lawsuits have been filed against Greenpeace for lost profits, harm to their reputation, and "sailormongering." The case involving "sailormongering," which used a law not used since 1890, was seen as an attempt by the Bush administration to get back at Greenpeace for criticizing its environmental policies. This case was dismissed when the prosecution could not prove its claims. In 2004, it was discovered that the Australian government was willing to give money to Southern Pacific Petroleum if the company took legal action against Greenpeace, which had opposed the Stuart Oil Shale Project. In March 2024, a lawsuit against Total, following Greenpeace's report about Total's underestimated greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, was dismissed by a Paris court. Greenpeace stated that this decision is important because other similar cases are still being handled in courts.

Some companies, including Royal Dutch Shell, BP, and Électricité de France, have responded to Greenpeace's campaigns by spying on their activities and entering their offices. Greenpeace activists have also faced phone tapping, death threats, violence, and in the case of the Rainbow Warrior bombing, actions that could be described as state terrorism. On 19 May 2023, Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office labeled Greenpeace as an undesirable organization, claiming it interfered with Russia's internal affairs, harmed the country's economy, and funded groups in Russia labeled as "foreign agents."

Criticism

Patrick Moore, a former member of Greenpeace, left the organization in 1986 after he claimed it supported a universal ban on chlorine in drinking water. He has stated that Greenpeace today is driven more by politics than science and that none of the group’s leaders have formal science training. Bruce Cox, Director of Greenpeace Canada, said Greenpeace never supported a universal chlorine ban and that it does not oppose the use of chlorine in drinking water or pharmaceuticals. He added that Moore’s memory of a chlorine-related dispute is not shared by others in the organization. Paul Watson, another early Greenpeace member, said Moore uses his status as a co-founder to support his claims. Watson, who is also a co-founder, has known Moore for 35 years and said Moore’s accusations lack factual support.

In 1976, Patrick Moore changed his position on nuclear power, moving from opposition to support. In an Australian newspaper, he wrote that Greenpeace is wrong to oppose nuclear energy, arguing that reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions requires more nuclear power. Phil Radford, executive director of Greenpeace US, said nuclear energy is too risky and too slow to build to address climate change. He claimed most countries could shift to nearly 100% renewable energy by 2050 while phasing out nuclear power. In 2013, Moore criticized Greenpeace’s stance on golden rice, a topic where he was joined by other environmentalists like Mark Lynas. He said Greenpeace spread misinformation, attacked scientists working on golden rice, and supported the destruction of field trials.

An editorial in the science journal Nature criticized Greenpeace for exaggerating the amount of oil in the Brent Spar tanker during a dispute with Shell. Greenpeace claimed the tanker held 5,500 tonnes of crude oil, but Shell estimated only 50 tonnes. The measurements were taken during a protest when Shell refused access, and activists faced water cannons. The BBC later apologized for reporting that Greenpeace lied.

Shell UK spent three years evaluating options for the Brent Spar tanker and concluded that deep-ocean disposal was the "Best Practicable Environmental Option" (BPEO). This option was supported by some scientists as having "negligible" environmental impact. The British government and the Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPAR) accepted the plan.

An NGO campaign against Shell’s proposal included letters, boycotts, and vandalism in Germany. Binding moratoriums supporting Greenpeace’s position on ocean dumping were adopted in several international meetings. At the 1998 OSPAR Convention, WWF presented a study on the toxic effects of deep-sea dumping. The meeting confirmed a ban on ocean dumping. Shell canceled the operation before it began, citing poor communication and public opposition. In 1998, Shell announced a new BPEO plan to recycle the rig as a quay in Norway.

In 1999, the Brent Spar container was decommissioned. A side issue was the discovery of cold-water coral species (Lophelia pertusa) on the structure’s legs. Scientists suggested keeping the legs on the seafloor to create habitats for marine life. A Greenpeace representative opposed the idea, saying the coral reefs are at risk and that such a move would not help reef development or protect coral from toxins in oil. Greenpeace campaigner Simon Reddy compared the idea to leaving cars in forests, saying it would not justify harming ecosystems.

In 2013, reports showed Pascal Husting, director of Greenpeace International’s program, commuting 400 km by plane, despite Greenpeace’s efforts to reduce air travel. After public criticism, Greenpeace said Husting would commute by train instead.

In December 2014, Greenpeace activists damaged parts of the Nazca Lines in Peru while setting up a banner. The activists walked on the site without protective shoes, risking harm to the UNESCO World Heritage site. Greenpeace claimed the activists were careful, but videos showed them wearing regular shoes. Greenpeace apologized, but Peru’s officials called the apology insincere, saying Greenpeace did not identify the vandals or accept responsibility. By January 2015, Greenpeace provided statements from four members involved in the incident.

During the 1990s, Greenpeace conducted anti-whaling campaigns in Norway. Critics claimed the group focused on whaling to gain financial support from the U.S., not to protect whales or the environment. Greenpeace denied these claims. In 2015, Greenpeace’s leader Kumi Naidoo admitted the anti-whaling campaign was a "miscalculation." Greenpeace said Norway resumed whaling after the IWC ban due to political reasons, not because of environmental concerns.

In June 2016, 107 Nobel laureates urged Greenpeace to stop opposing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Greenpeace responded by saying claims that it blocks "Golden Rice" are false and that it supports sustainable agriculture and food security for farmers.

In December 2020, Norway’s Supreme Court ruled that it would not interfere with ongoing oil exploration efforts challenged by Greenpeace and Nature and Youth Norway.

Archives

The Greenpeace Canada collection is available at Library and Archives Canada. The reference number for this collection is R4377.

Gallery

• Greenpeace boat on the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany in 2007
• Coal protest in Canada in 2009
• Anti-nuclear demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, 2009
• Activists in Poland protesting against an open pit mine in 2014
• Greenpeace Israel taking action against pollution in 2015
• Nuclear protest in Turkey in 2015
• Legislative hearing on deforestation in Brasil in 2015
• Protest with coal in front of the German Chancellery in 2017
• Nuclear protest in Romania in 2017
• Women in Concert for the Energy Revolution at Sala la Riviera in Madrid, 2018
• Demonstration in Berlin in 2019