Greenpeace Faces Mounting Legal Pressure Over Protest Campaigns

Greenpeace, a global, independent environmental organisation is confronting major legal challenges linked to its environmental activism, including a North Dakota jury ruling ordering the organisation to pay more than $650 million to pipeline operator Energy Transfer. Rights groups warn the lawsuit, rooted in Greenpeace’s support for Indigenous-led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, could have a chilling effect on free speech.

The group is also fighting an attempt by Romania’s state-owned gas company Romgaz to shut down its local branch after campaigns against Black Sea gas projects. Greenpeace has launched a counter-case in Europe, arguing that these actions amount to abusive Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation litigation designed to intimidate activists and deter environmental advocacy worldwide.