Greenpeace is a worldwide group that works to protect the environment. It was started in Canada in 1971 by a group of 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 for business, changing the genes of plants and animals, stopping wars, and stopping the use of nuclear power. To reach its goals, Greenpeace uses actions like protests, speaking out, doing research, and helping people learn about environmental issues. The group has 26 separate organizations in more than 55 countries in 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 get money from governments, companies, or political groups. Instead, it relies on support from about three million people and donations from certain organizations. Greenpeace has a special advisor role with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is also part of the INGO Accountability Charter, a group that helps make sure other organizations are honest and clear in their work.

Greenpeace is known for using peaceful protests to bring attention to environmental problems. It has helped people learn about important issues and has influenced both businesses and governments. However, some people have criticized Greenpeace. In one case, more than 100 Nobel Prize winners wrote a letter asking Greenpeace to stop its work against genetically modified plants and animals.

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 someone’s reputation because of protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and 2017. Some activists were fined or had their sentences put on hold for breaking the law by destroying a field of genetically modified wheat. In Peru, the government said activists were punished for damaging 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 it might cause earthquakes or tsunamis. About 7,000 people gathered at the Peace Arch Border Crossing between British Columbia and Washington to protest. They held 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.

Although no earthquake or tsunami occurred after the test, opposition grew when the United States announced plans to detonate a bomb five times more powerful. Jim Bohlen, a U.S. Navy veteran, and Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, who had recently joined the Quaker religion, were among those who opposed the test. They were upset that the Sierra Club Canada, an organization they were part of, did not take stronger action. Jim Bohlen learned about a protest method called "bearing witness," which involves showing disapproval by simply being present. Jim Bohlen’s wife, Marie, suggested sailing to Amchitka, inspired by earlier anti-nuclear voyages. This idea was reported in the press and linked to the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club did not want this connection, so in 1970, the Don’t Make a Wave Committee was formed to lead the protest. Early meetings took place at the home of Robert Hunter and his wife, Bobbi Hunter. Later, the Stowe family’s home in Vancouver became the group’s headquarters. Rex Weyler, a Greenpeace historian, said the Stowes’ home would become a key place for global environmental efforts. The first Greenpeace office was set up in a small store in Kitsilano, Vancouver. Within six months, Greenpeace shared space with another environmental group on 4th Avenue and Maple Street.

Irving Stowe organized a benefit concert supported by Joan Baez, which took place on October 16, 1970, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The event raised money for Greenpeace’s first campaign. The concert was later released as a CD and MP3. Using the funds, the Don’t Make a Wave Committee hired a ship, the Phyllis Cormack, which was renamed Greenpeace after a term created by activist Bill Darnell. The ship’s crew included Captain John Cormack, Jim Bohlen, Bill Darnell, Patrick Moore, Dr. Lyle Thurston, and others.

On September 15, 1971, the Greenpeace sailed toward Amchitka but was stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard ship Confidence. Due to bad weather and the Coast Guard’s actions, the crew returned to Canada. News of their journey and the Coast Guard’s reported support for their cause gained public sympathy. Greenpeace later tried to reach the test site with other ships until the United States detonated the bomb. The nuclear test was widely criticized, and the United States decided not to continue testing at Amchitka.

Environmental historian Frank Zelko says the Don’t Make a Wave Committee was formed in 1969. Jim Bohlen claims the group officially adopted the name on November 28, 1969. Greenpeace’s website states the committee was established in 1970, while its certificate of incorporation lists October 5, 1970, as the official start date. Researcher Vanessa Timmer dates the formal creation to 1971. Greenpeace itself calls the 1971 protest voyage the beginning of the organization. Patrick Moore, an early member who later distanced himself from Greenpeace, and Rex Weyler say the name was officially changed to Greenpeace Foundation in 1972.

Vanessa Timmer describes the early members as a loosely organized group of people with different backgrounds. Frank Zelko notes that, unlike some environmental groups, Greenpeace grew gradually rather than being created suddenly. Greenpeace’s website says no single person founded the organization, as many people contributed ideas and efforts. Patrick Moore and Rex Weyler both say Greenpeace was always a work in progress, not a clearly defined start.

Greenpeace’s website lists Dorothy and Irving Stowe, Marie and Jim Bohlen, Ben and Dorothy Metcalfe, and Robert Hunter as founders of the Don’t Make a Wave Committee. Patrick Moore and Dorothy Stowe, Dorothy Metcalfe, and Robert Hunter say the founders were Paul Cote, Irving and Dorothy Stowe, and Jim and Marie Bohlen. Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, claims he was also a founder of the committee and Greenpeace. Greenpeace says Watson was an early supporter but not a founder. Patrick Moore, who was on the first protest voyage, considers himself a founder, though Greenpeace says he was an important early member.

After the Stowe home and the first concert, Greenpeace used other private homes and held weekly public meetings at the Kitsilano Neighborhood House. In 1974, Greenpeace moved to a small office shared with the SPEC environmental group. When the Amchitka tests ended, Greenpeace focused on French nuclear testing at Moruroa Atoll in French Polynesia. The organization asked for help from David McTaggart, a former businessman in New Zealand. In 1972, McTaggart’s yacht, the Vega, was renamed Greenpeace III and sailed to Moruroa to protest French nuclear tests. The voyage was organized by New Zealand’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. French authorities tried to stop the protest, including attacking McTaggart, who reportedly lost sight in one eye. A crew member photographed the attack, and the incident was shared publicly. After this, France announced it would stop atmospheric nuclear testing.

In the mid-1970s, some Greenpeace members started an independent campaign called Project Ahab to oppose commercial whaling. Irving Stowe believed Greenpeace should focus on nuclear issues rather than other causes.

Organizational structure

Greenpeace has two main parts: Greenpeace International, which is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and 25 regional offices that work in 55 countries. The regional offices operate mostly on their own, but they are 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 staff members 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. These regional boards also appoint a representative to attend the Greenpeace International Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, representatives vote to choose or replace the board of directors of Greenpeace International. The meeting also discusses and decides on important rules and strategies for Greenpeace, working together with representatives from regional offices and the international board.

Greenpeace gets its money from individual donors and foundations. It checks all large donations to make sure they are not from unwanted sources. Except for the Netherlands' National Postcode Lottery, Greenpeace does not accept money from governments, international organizations, political parties, or companies to avoid outside influence.

Greenpeace refuses donations from foundations that are supported by political parties, receive most of their money from governments or international groups, or impose conditions that limit Greenpeace’s work. It also rejects donations if they might harm the organization’s independence or goals. In the mid-1990s, Greenpeace noticed a drop in supporters and started using face-to-face fundraising. This method involves fundraisers meeting people in public places to ask for monthly donations. 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 (IRS) that Greenpeace US’s tax returns were incorrect and broke the law. The IRS did a detailed review and 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 said $120,000 of the $124,095 the group received during that time came from ExxonMobil. In 2013, after the IRS completed another audit that found no issues, and following claims that the IRS unfairly targeted groups linked to the Tea Party movement, Greenpeace U.S. executive director Phil Radford asked Congress to investigate all politically motivated 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 the organization faced a "burning platform" moment. He encouraged Greenpeace’s leaders to adopt new strategies or risk becoming irrelevant.

To follow 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 skills 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

In 1993, Greenpeace created one of the first plans for reducing climate change. Sociologists Marc Mormont and Christine Dasnoy said Greenpeace helped people understand global warming in the 1990s. Greenpeace focused on chemicals called CFCs because they harm the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. Greenpeace was a major group that supported ending the use of ozone-damaging chemicals in the Montreal Protocol. In the early 1990s, Greenpeace worked with refrigerator companies to create a CFC-free refrigerator technology called "Greenfreeze" for mass production. In 1997, the United Nations Environment Programme gave Greenpeace an award for helping protect the Earth's ozone layer. By 2011, two-fifths of all refrigerators worldwide used Greenfreeze technology, with over 600 million units in use.

Today, Greenpeace believes global warming is the biggest environmental problem. It wants global greenhouse gas emissions to reach their highest point in 2015 and drop close to zero by 2050. Greenpeace urges industrialized countries to cut emissions by 40% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels and to help developing countries build clean energy, adapt to climate change, and stop deforestation by 2020. With EREC, Greenpeace created a plan called "Energy [R]evolution," which aims for 80% of the world's energy to come from renewable sources by 2050, reducing energy sector emissions by over 80% compared to 1990 levels.

Greenpeace members have used direct action to protest coal by occupying power plants, blocking coal shipments, and stopping mining in places like New Zealand, Svalbard, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Greenpeace 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 energy company called Greenpeace Energy. The company later began selling fossil gas in 2011. After criticism in 2021 about selling fossil fuel, the company changed its name to Green Planet Energy. Greenpeace Germany still owns one share in the company, which has been criticized for promoting Russian gas as eco-friendly.

In 2007, six Greenpeace protesters were arrested for breaking into the Kingsnorth power station in England. They climbed a smokestack, painted the name "Gordon" on the chimney (a reference to a former UK leader), and caused about £30,000 in damage. At their trial, the activists said they were trying to stop climate change and argued their actions were legal. Experts, including a climate scientist and a leader from Greenland, testified that climate change was already harming people globally. The activists were found not guilty, marking the first time a court used climate change as a defense for property damage. This case was reported as a challenge to the UK government and listed as one of the most influential ideas of 2008.

Greenpeace launched the "Go Beyond Oil" campaign to reduce oil use worldwide. The campaign targets companies drilling for oil, especially in the Arctic and areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Activities include protests against the Edinburgh-based company Cairn Energy and efforts to pressure governments that allow oil exploration.

Greenpeace opposes nuclear power, calling it "dangerous, polluting, expensive, and non-renewable." It cites the Chernobyl disaster (1986) and the Fukushima disaster (2011) as proof of the risks nuclear power poses. Greenpeace argues that nuclear energy's benefits are small compared to its dangers, such as environmental harm, uranium mining, nuclear weapons risks, and unresolved nuclear waste issues. It claims nuclear power's ability to reduce global warming is limited, citing a plan by the International Energy Agency that would require building 32 nuclear reactors annually until 2050. Greenpeace says this plan is unrealistic due to delays and costs. It also criticized the construction of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear plant in Finland as an example of nuclear energy's problems.

In 2022, Greenpeace threatened to sue the European Union after it labeled nuclear power as a "green" technology. Greenpeace celebrated Germany's decision to stop using nuclear power in 2023, even though Germany faced an energy crisis and relied more on coal and gas.

In 1994, Greenpeace published an advertisement claiming nuclear facilities in Sellafield would kill 2,000 people in 10 years and showed a child with a health condition linked to nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. The Advertising Standards Authority banned the ad, saying the claim about Sellafield had no scientific support. Greenpeace did not admit fault, stating a doctor from Kazakhstan linked the child's condition to nuclear testing, even though Sellafield does not conduct nuclear weapons testing.

In 2011, a French court fined Électricité de France (EDF) €1.5 million and jailed two employees for spying on Greenpeace, including hacking into its systems. Greenpeace received €500,000 in damages. EDF claimed it only monitored Greenpeace, but the court ruled against it. EDF appealed and was cleared of conspiracy charges, but the fine was canceled. Two employees from the security firm Kargus were involved in the spying.

Forest campaign

Greenpeace works to protect untouched 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 by some of these companies. Greenpeace, along with other environmental organizations, worked for ten years to convince the European Union to stop importing illegal wood. In July 2010, the EU agreed to ban illegal timber. Because deforestation increases global warming, Greenpeace has pushed for including REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) in climate agreements after the Kyoto Protocol.

Another Greenpeace effort focuses on stopping the expansion of palm oil production. This movement is most active in Indonesia, where 6 million hectares (23,000 square miles) are already used for palm oil plantations. Plans existed to add another 4 million hectares (15,000 square miles) by 2015. Greenpeace warns that large-scale palm oil production harms forest biodiversity and is working to stop it. It encourages industries and governments to use other energy sources instead. One result of this campaign was Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), the second-largest palm oil company, agreeing to protect forests. GAR signed an agreement to avoid planting 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 to Nestlé stating it would no longer use such practices. In 2018, Greenpeace released an animated film featuring a fictional orangutan named Rang-tan for World Orangutan Day. In November 2018, UK’s Clearcast rejected a version of the Rang-tan video submitted by Iceland Foods Ltd.

In June 1995, Greenpeace removed a tree trunk from the proposed Koitajoki national park in Finland 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 stealing the tree and said it came from a normal forest that had not been protected. Metsähallitus also stated the tree had fallen during a storm. The incident was widely reported in Finnish newspapers like Helsingin Sanomat and Ilta-Sanomat. Greenpeace responded that the tree fell because the surrounding forest had been cut down and wanted to highlight the dangers to old forests. Greenpeace noted that Metsähallitus later recognized the importance of the Koitajoki area due to its old-growth forests.

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

Resolute Forest Products 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 rejected most of Resolute’s claims. Greenpeace argues that Resolute’s activities harm Canada’s Boreal Forest, which stores more carbon than tropical forests and is vital to protecting the global climate.

Tokyo Two

In 2008, two Greenpeace activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, took a box of whale meat from a delivery center in Aomori prefecture, Japan. They did this to reveal what they believed was improper use of whale meat collected during hunting activities. After a short investigation concluded, Sato and Suzuki were accused of theft and trespassing. Amnesty International stated that the arrests and later searches at Greenpeace Japan's office and the homes of five Greenpeace staff members were intended to scare activists and non-governmental organizations. In September 2010, the Aomori District Court found them guilty of theft 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 famine, as long as non-GM grain was available. They stated that the U.S. should follow the example of the European Union and let aid recipients choose their food aid, including buying it locally if possible. This approach, they said, could help developing economies and improve food security. They also noted that if no other options were available, GM maize should be milled to prevent it from being planted. This condition allowed Zambia’s neighbors, 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 NGOs 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 government refused the aid. Greenpeace shared their opinion with the government, but the government ignored their advice.

In 2007, Greenpeace funded research by Gilles-Éric Séralini on MON 863 genetically engineered maize. The study claimed the maize caused health issues in rats. However, the European Food Safety Authority and the French Commission du Génie Biomoléculaire (AFBV) found serious errors in the study’s methods. Later research by Séralini on GMOs led to accusations of scientific fraud and the retraction of his work.

In the same year, Greenpeace also promoted results from Árpád Pusztai’s research, which were later retracted.

Greenpeace opposes the use of golden rice, a type of genetically engineered rice designed to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. This addition aims to prevent blindness in poor countries where the rice is distributed. Greenpeace claims that golden rice has not solved malnutrition in 10 years, while other methods already address the issue. Instead, Greenpeace suggests reducing reliance on single crops and increasing the production of naturally nutrient-rich foods. They argue that resources should be used for existing programs that help reduce malnutrition. These concerns were renewed in 2016 when a new version of golden rice, called "golden rice 2," was developed by Syngenta. Greenpeace accused the company of prioritizing profit and promoting GMOs.

Greenpeace has expressed concerns about golden rice since 2001, including worries about the lack of safety testing for GMO crops and the risks to human health and the environment. In 2005, they continued to highlight these issues. In 2016, 107 Nobel Laureates wrote an open letter urging Greenpeace to stop opposing GM crops and golden rice. They asked governments to support access to modern agricultural tools, including biotechnology. The letter stated that opposition based on emotion and unproven claims should end. Greenpeace responded by saying that claims about blocking golden rice are false and that they support investing in sustainable farming practices and ensuring access to nutritious food instead of focusing on GM crops.

Toxic waste

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

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

In August 2006, Greenpeace published 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 the use of harmful materials and how companies handle electronic waste. In November 2011, the ranking criteria were updated to encourage companies to set goals for reducing greenhouse gases, using 100% renewable energy, making long-lasting products without harmful substances, and improving sustainability. Greenpeace only uses public information to assess companies, and it checks if companies' policies match their actions by testing products, reviewing industry reports, and checking consumer programs. Since 2006, the Guide to Greener Electronics and similar campaigns have helped many companies improve by removing toxic chemicals and improving recycling efforts. The last edition 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" banners began as part of a campaign to protect the Arctic region. Activists demanded that world leaders create a "global sanctuary in the high Arctic" to stop oil and gas drilling, industrial fishing, and military activities. At the UN General Assembly, they asked for a resolution to show international concern for the Arctic’s fragile wildlife and ecosystems. In September 2013, 30 Greenpeace activists from the MV Arctic Sunrise were arrested by Russian Coast Guard officers while protesting at Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya platform. They were first charged with piracy, then with disorderly conduct, but these charges were later dropped after a Russian amnesty law was passed.

In July 2014, Greenpeace started a global boycott campaign to pressure Lego to stop selling toys with Shell’s logo. 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 Lego sets, games, and movies, including The Lego Movie, where Octan is run by a villain named President Business.

A conflict arose between the Norwegian government and Greenpeace over oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean. In 2013, three Greenpeace activists wearing bear suits climbed onto a Statoil oil rig. They stayed for about three hours before being escorted to the shore. Statoil did not plan to take legal action against them. Greenpeace claimed that Statoil’s drilling plans threatened Bear Island, a wildlife sanctuary home to rare species like polar bears. Greenpeace argued that an oil spill in the Arctic would be nearly impossible to clean up due to harsh conditions and called Statoil’s activities "illegal." Statoil denied these claims, stating it respects legal protests and has safety plans for its operations.

On May 27, 2014, Greenpeace’s ship, MV Esperanza, blocked the operations of Statoil’s oil rig, Transocean Spitsbergen, in the Barents Sea. Seven Greenpeace activists remained on the rig until Norwegian police captured them peacefully on May 29. All were released without fines. On May 30, the Norwegian Coast Guard towed the MV Esperanza away. Before this, Greenpeace had collected over 80,000 signatures on a petition to Norway’s Environment Minister.

The Norwegian police said Statoil asked Greenpeace to stop interfering with its operations, but Greenpeace ignored the request. Police stated that Greenpeace’s actions violated Norwegian law and ordered them to leave the Barents Sea. Statoil reported that delays in drilling cost about $1.26 million per day. Statoil had planned to begin drilling three oil wells in the summer of 2014. Greenpeace continues to criticize Statoil for "greenwashing," claiming the company hides risks of its oil drilling by supporting programs like the FIRST Lego League and diverting attention from its environmental impact. Greenpeace urges Statoil to change its approach to protecting the environment.

Moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters

Greenpeace has partnered with other environmental groups to ask for a pause on deep sea mining that is approved by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Greenpeace states that mining for polymetallic nodules in the deep ocean could seriously harm the world's oceans, which help reduce carbon emissions by absorbing one-fourth of the carbon released each year. The group also says deep sea mining harms the homes of newly discovered species, such as 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 states that the ocean is a shared resource for all people, to create better protections for the ocean. A 2018 report by Greenpeace Research Laboratories emphasized the need to protect ocean life from harmful chemicals released during seabed mining for natural gas and rare metals used in solar panels.

Greenpeace believes the ISA, which supports mining activities, 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 deep sea 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 claims is at risk from mining exploration.

Alternative economy

Greenpeace supports different ways of doing things instead of the current system in society and the economy. The group believes the current system is harmful to people and the Earth. To find better solutions, Greenpeace works with groups of people, scientists, and other organizations.

Ships

Since Greenpeace was created, ships have been important tools for its campaigns. Greenpeace has used additional ships when needed. During its 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 to show where the rocks were placed.

• Rainbow Warrior is the third ship with that 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. It was named after a book called Warriors of the Rainbow, which inspired activist Robert Hunter during a trip to Amchitka. Greenpeace bought the ship for £40,000. Volunteers spent four months repairing and preparing it. The ship was first used to stop Iceland’s whaling fleet. Over time, it became a key part of Greenpeace’s work. Between 1978 and 1985, the ship’s crew took action against ocean dumping of harmful waste, the hunting of grey seals in Orkney, and nuclear testing in the Pacific. In May 1985, the ship helped with "Operation Exodus," which moved about 300 people from Rongelap Atoll. Their home had been polluted by nuclear fallout from a U.S. test decades earlier, which caused serious health problems for the people living there.

Later in 1985, the Rainbow Warrior was to lead a group of protest ships near Moruroa Atoll, where France tested nuclear weapons. The ship was destroyed when the French government secretly bombed it in Auckland Harbor, following orders from French President François Mitterrand. This killed Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira, who entered the ship after a small explosion to retrieve his camera equipment but drowned in a second, larger explosion. The attack caused a public relations crisis for France after New Zealand police quickly discovered it. In 1987, France paid New Zealand $13 million in compensation and officially apologized. France also paid 2.3 million francs to Pereira’s family. In 2001, when Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research called Greenpeace “eco-terrorists,” Gert Leipold, then Greenpeace’s executive director, strongly disagreed. He said, “Calling peaceful protest terrorism insults people harmed by real terrorists, including Fernando Pereira, who was killed by state terrorism in the 1985 attack on the Rainbow Warrior.”

In 1989, Greenpeace built a new Rainbow Warrior ship, sometimes called Rainbow Warrior II. It stopped being used in 2011, when it was replaced by the third version. In 2005, the Rainbow Warrior II ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines while checking for coral damage. Greenpeace was fined $7,000 for harming 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 claims of lost profits, damage to its reputation, and "sailormongering." The "sailormongering" case, based on a law not used since 1890, was seen by many as an attempt by the Bush administration to retaliate for Greenpeace's criticism of its environmental policies. This case was dropped when the prosecution could not prove its claims. In 2004, it was discovered that the Australian government offered a financial incentive to Southern Pacific Petroleum, provided the company took legal action against Greenpeace for its opposition to the Stuart Oil Shale Project. In March 2024, a lawsuit against Total was dismissed in a Paris court after Greenpeace released information about Total's underestimation of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Greenpeace stated that this outcome is significant because similar cases are still being considered in other courts.

Some companies, including Royal Dutch Shell, BP, and Électricité de France, have responded to Greenpeace's campaigns by monitoring its activities and entering its offices. Greenpeace activists have also faced phone tapping, death threats, and violence, including the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. In May 2023, Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office labeled Greenpeace as an undesirable organization, accusing it of interfering with Russia's internal affairs, harming the economy, and supporting groups classified as "foreign agents" in Russia.

Criticism

Patrick Moore, an early member of Greenpeace, left the organization in 1986. He said Greenpeace had decided to support a universal ban on chlorine in drinking water. Moore has claimed that Greenpeace today is influenced more by politics than science and that none of his "fellow directors had formal science education." Bruce Cox, Director of Greenpeace Canada, said Greenpeace never supported a universal chlorine ban and does not oppose chlorine use in drinking water or pharmaceuticals. He added that Moore is the only person who remembers a fight over chlorine as the reason for leaving Greenpeace. Paul Watson, another early Greenpeace member, said Moore "uses his status as a co-founder of Greenpeace to give credibility to his accusations." Watson, who is also a co-founder, has known Moore for 35 years and said Moore’s claims are not based on facts.

In 1976, Moore changed his position on nuclear power, moving from opposition to support. In The Age, an Australian newspaper, he wrote that Greenpeace is wrong to oppose nuclear power and that realistic plans to reduce fossil fuel use need more nuclear energy. Phil Radford, executive director of Greenpeace US, said nuclear energy is too risky and too slow to build for climate change. He claimed most countries, including the U.S., 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 other environmentalists, like Mark Lynas, agreed with him. Moore said Greenpeace "waged a campaign of misinformation" and harmed scientists working on golden rice.

An editorial in the science journal Nature criticized Greenpeace for not using facts when it opposed the disposal of the Brent Spar tanker. Greenpeace claimed the tanker held 5,500 tonnes of oil, but Shell said it only held 50 tonnes. Greenpeace measured the oil during a protest, as Shell refused permission. The BBC later apologized to Greenpeace for reporting that the group lied.

Shell UK spent three years studying disposal options and concluded that dumping the tanker in the deep ocean was the "Best Practicable Environmental Option" (BPEO). Some scientists supported this decision, calling the environmental impact "negligible." The British government and the Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPAR) accepted the plan.

Greenpeace’s campaign against Shell’s plan included letters, boycotts, vandalism in Germany, and lobbying at international meetings. In 1998, the OSPAR Convention passed a ban on ocean dumping. Shell canceled the disposal plan, saying it had not communicated its plans clearly to the public. In 1998, Shell announced a new BPEO to recycle the tanker as a quay in Norway.

In 1999, the Brent Spar container was decommissioned. One issue was that coral species were found on the structure’s legs. Some suggested leaving the legs on the seafloor to create habitats, but a Greenpeace representative opposed this, saying the coral reefs are at risk and such a move could expose them to toxins.

In 2013, Pascal Husting, director of Greenpeace International’s program, was criticized for flying 400 km daily to work, despite Greenpeace’s efforts to reduce air travel. After public backlash, 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 site is a UNESCO World Heritage area, and access is restricted. Visitors must wear special shoes to avoid damage. Greenpeace said the activists were "careful to protect the lines," but photos showed them wearing regular shoes. Greenpeace apologized to Peru, but officials called the apology "a joke" because Greenpeace did not identify the activists or accept responsibility.

In the 1990s, Greenpeace conducted anti-whaling campaigns in Norway. Critics claimed these efforts were driven by financial support from the U.S. rather than environmental concerns. Greenpeace rejected this, but in 2015, Kumi Naidoo, then Greenpeace’s International Executive Director, said the anti-whaling campaign was a "miscalculation." Greenpeace argued that Norway resumed whaling after the IWC ban due to political reasons, not environmental ones.

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 "investing in climate-resilient agriculture" and helping farmers access nutritious food.

In December 2020, Norway’s Supreme Court declined to stop oil exploration efforts challenged by Greenpeace and Nature and Youth Norway. The court said the case should continue.

Archives

A collection related to Greenpeace Canada is housed at Library and Archives Canada. The reference number for this collection is R4377.

Gallery

• Greenpeace boat in Hamburg, Germany, on the Elbe River in 2007
• Coal protest in Canada in 2009
• Anti-nuclear demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2009
• Activists in Poland protesting an open-pit mine in 2014
• Greenpeace Israel taking action against pollution in 2015
• Nuclear protest in Turkey in 2015
• Legislative hearing about deforestation in Brazil in 2015
• Coal protest 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, Madrid, in 2018
• Demonstration in Berlin in 2019