Greenpeace facts for kids

This page is about the international environmental organization. For other uses, see Greenpeace (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Greenpeace
Logo of Greenpeace
Global map of Greenpeace office locations
Formation	1969; 56 years ago (1969) – 1972 (1972) (see article) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Type	International NGO
Purpose	Environmentalism, peace
Headquarters	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Region served	Worldwide
Executive Director	Mads Christensen
Main organ	Board of directors, elected by the Annual General Meeting
Budget	€ 103.735 million (2022)
Staff	3,476 (2022)
Volunteers	34,365+ (2022)
Website	greenpeace.org
Formerly called	Don't Make a Wave Committee (1969–1972)

Greenpeace is a global organization that works to protect our planet. It was started in Canada in 1971 by a group of people who cared deeply about the environment. Greenpeace wants to make sure that Earth can continue to support all kinds of life.

The group focuses on big global issues like climate change, cutting down too many trees (which is called deforestation), and catching too many fish (known as overfishing). They also work against commercial whaling, genetic engineering, and nuclear weapons. To achieve its goals, Greenpeace uses peaceful actions, speaks out for change, does research, and sometimes uses creative ways to stop harmful activities.

Greenpeace is a network of 26 independent groups in over 55 countries. Its main office, Greenpeace International, is in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The organization does not accept money from governments, companies, or political parties. Instead, it relies on donations from millions of individual supporters. This helps them stay independent.

Greenpeace is famous for its non-violent direct actions. It has helped people around the world learn more about environmental problems. It has also influenced both private companies and governments. However, Greenpeace has also faced criticism. For example, some people have disagreed with their campaigns against genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

History

How Greenpeace Started

Location of Amchitka island in Alaska.

The nuclear device that sparked the creation of Greenpeace being lowered into its firing hole for Cannikin.

In the late 1960s, the United States planned to test a nuclear weapon underground on Amchitka island in Alaska. This island is known for earthquakes. Many people worried that the test could cause earthquakes or even a tsunami. About 7,000 people protested at the border between Canada and the U.S. They carried signs saying, "Don't Make A Wave."

Even with the protests, the U.S. detonated the bomb. No big earthquake or tsunami happened, but people were still worried. The U.S. then announced another, much more powerful bomb test. This made the opposition grow even stronger.

Some of the people against the tests were Jim Bohlen, Irving Stowe, and Dorothy Stowe. They were frustrated that other environmental groups weren't doing enough. Jim Bohlen's wife, Marie, had an idea: sail a boat to Amchitka to protest. This idea was inspired by earlier anti-nuclear voyages.

In 1970, the "Don't Make a Wave Committee" was formed to organize this protest. Early meetings were held in homes in Vancouver, Canada. The first office was a small space in Kitsilano, Vancouver.

To raise money for their protest, Irving Stowe organized a concert in October 1970. The concert helped pay for their first campaign. With the money, the committee rented a ship called the Phyllis Cormack. For the protest, the ship was renamed Greenpeace. This name was suggested by activist Bill Darnell.

On September 15, 1971, the Greenpeace sailed towards Amchitka. The U.S. Coast Guard stopped them and forced them to turn back. Despite this, news of their journey spread. People around the world supported their protest. Greenpeace tried to reach the test site again with other boats. Finally, the U.S. detonated the second bomb. However, the strong public criticism led the U.S. to stop all future nuclear tests at Amchitka.

The Founders of Greenpeace

Greenpeace grew from a group of people who wanted to make a difference. There wasn't just one founder. Many people helped start the "Don't Make a Wave Committee" in 1969 or 1970. This committee later became the Greenpeace Foundation in 1972.

Some of the key people who helped start the committee were Dorothy and Irving Stowe, Marie and Jim Bohlen, Ben and Dorothy Metcalfe, and Robert Hunter. Many others joined early on and helped shape what Greenpeace is today.

After the Amchitka Protests

After the Amchitka tests, Greenpeace turned its attention to French nuclear tests. These tests were happening in the atmosphere at the Moruroa Atoll in French Polynesia. The young organization needed help. They were contacted by David McTaggart, a former businessman from New Zealand.

In 1972, McTaggart's yacht, the Vega, was renamed Greenpeace III. It sailed into the nuclear test zone at Moruroa to try and stop the tests. The French Navy tried to stop the protest. They even attacked David McTaggart. One of his crew members took photos of the incident. When these photos were shared, France announced it would stop its atmospheric nuclear tests.

In the mid-1970s, some Greenpeace members started a campaign against commercial whaling. They sailed to face Soviet whalers off the coast of California. Greenpeace activists put themselves between the harpoons and the whales. Videos of these protests spread globally. Later in the 1970s, Greenpeace also began to focus on toxic waste and seal hunting.

How Greenpeace Grew

Greenpeace started as a group of protesters and grew into a global environmental movement. Many independent groups using the name Greenpeace began to appear around the world. By 1977, there were 15 to 20 Greenpeace groups.

However, the Canadian Greenpeace office was in debt. There were disagreements between the different offices about how to raise money and what direction the organization should take. To solve this, David McTaggart helped create a new structure.

On October 14, 1979, Greenpeace International was formed. This brought the different Greenpeace offices under one global organization. The local offices now contribute a part of their money to the international group. Greenpeace International helps set the overall goals for the movement.

How Greenpeace Works

Leadership and Structure

The governance and management structure of Greenpeace.

Greenpeace is made up of Greenpeace International, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and 25 regional offices. These offices operate in 55 countries. The regional offices work mostly on their own, but Greenpeace International oversees them.

The leader of Greenpeace International is chosen by its board members. Greenpeace has about 2,400 staff members and 15,000 volunteers worldwide. Each regional office has its own leader, chosen by its board. These regional boards also pick a person to attend the Greenpeace International Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, they choose the board of directors for Greenpeace International. They also discuss and decide on the main goals and important issues for Greenpeace.

How Greenpeace Gets Money

Greenpeace street fundraiser talking to a passer-by

Greenpeace gets its money from individual supporters and foundations. They carefully check all large donations to make sure they don't receive money from sources they don't want. The organization does not accept money from governments, political parties, or companies. This helps them stay independent and avoid being influenced by others.

They also turn down money from foundations that are mainly funded by governments or political groups. Donations are also refused if they come with conditions that would limit Greenpeace's actions or independence.

In the mid-1990s, the number of supporters started to decrease. So, Greenpeace began using "face-to-face fundraising." This is where fundraisers talk to people in public places and ask them to sign up for a monthly donation. In 2008, most of the money Greenpeace received came from about 2.6 million regular supporters, mainly from Europe.

What Greenpeace Focuses On

Greenpeace is an independent organization that uses peaceful, creative ways to show the world's environmental problems. They also work to find solutions for a green and peaceful future. Their main goal is to make sure the Earth can support all life in its many forms. This means they want to:

Stop the planet from warming too much to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
Protect all kinds of biodiversity (the variety of life on Earth).
Slow down how much we consume and learn to live within our planet's limits.
Promote renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Work for peace, global disarmament (getting rid of weapons), and non-violence.

Climate and Energy

Tove Maria Ryding, a Greenpeace Climate Policy Coordinator, at a conference in 2010.

Greenpeace Climate March in Madrid, 2015.

Greenpeace was one of the first groups to suggest a plan for how to deal with climate change in a sustainable way. They have played a big role in making people aware of global warming. Greenpeace also focused on CFCs, which are chemicals that harm the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

In the early 1990s, Greenpeace helped develop a CFC-free refrigerator technology called "Greenfreeze." This technology is now used in over 600 million refrigerators worldwide. In 1997, the United Nations honored Greenpeace for its work in protecting the ozone layer.

Today, Greenpeace believes global warming is the biggest environmental problem. They want global greenhouse gas emissions to drop to almost zero by 2050. To do this, they ask rich countries to cut their emissions by a lot. They also want these countries to help developing nations build clean energy systems. Greenpeace has also created a plan called "Energy [R]evolution." This plan shows how 80% of the world's energy could come from renewable sources by 2050.

Greenpeace activists have protested against coal power plants and blocked coal shipments. They have done this in places like New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. They also oppose getting oil from oil sands in Canada.

Kingsnorth Court Case

In 2007, six Greenpeace protesters broke into the Kingsnorth power station in England. They climbed a tall smokestack and painted a name on it. They admitted they were trying to shut down the station. They argued that they were legally right to do so because they were trying to prevent climate change from causing even greater damage.

Experts, including a climate scientist and an Inuit leader, spoke in court. They explained that climate change was already harming people around the world. The six activists were found not guilty. This was a very important case. It was the first time that preventing property damage from climate change was used as a legal defense in court.

"Go Beyond Oil" Campaign

Greenpeace has a campaign called "Go Beyond Oil." Its goal is to slow down and eventually stop the world's use of oil. Activists protest against companies that drill for oil. Much of this campaign focuses on drilling in the Arctic and areas affected by oil spills, like the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Greenpeace has protested against oil companies like Cairn Energy. They have protested at company offices and even climbed oil rigs to try and stop drilling. The campaign also puts pressure on governments that allow oil exploration. Greenpeace wants to show how far the oil industry will go to get the last drops of oil. They also want to push companies and governments to move past oil and use cleaner energy.

Nuclear Power

Greenpeace is against nuclear power. They believe it is "dangerous, polluting, expensive and non-renewable." They point to the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 and the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011. These events show the risks nuclear power can pose to people, the environment, and the economy.

Greenpeace argues that nuclear power does not help much with global warming. They say it takes too long to build nuclear plants and costs too much. They believe that investing a lot of money in nuclear energy would take away funds from better solutions.

EDF Spying Case

In 2011, a French court fined a company called Électricité de France (EDF) for spying on Greenpeace. Two senior EDF employees were jailed for hacking into Greenpeace's computers. Greenpeace was given money for the damages. EDF said they only hired a security firm to watch Greenpeace. However, the court disagreed. Later, EDF appealed, and the company was cleared of conspiracy to spy, and the fine was canceled. But two employees of the security firm were still sentenced.

Ozone Layer and Greenfreeze

The ozone layer around Earth protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. In 1985, scientists found that the ozone layer was being damaged by chemicals. This led to the Montreal Protocol in 1987. This agreement banned chemicals like CFCs and HCFCs, which were used in refrigerators.

Around 1992, a German institute developed a new, ozone-safe refrigerant that used hydrocarbons. The rights to this technology were given to Greenpeace. Greenpeace kept it as an open source patent, meaning anyone could use it. This "Greenfreeze" technology was then used in Germany, China, and other parts of the world. By 2012, it was even used in the U.S.

Forest Campaign

The March For Forests, 2019.

Greenpeace event in Switzerland to raise awareness about protecting forests, 2023.

Greenpeace wants to protect untouched forests from being cut down or damaged. Their goal is to have zero deforestation by 2020. They have accused big companies like Unilever, Nike, KFC, and McDonald's of being linked to cutting down tropical rainforests. This has led to some of these companies changing their policies.

Greenpeace also worked for ten years with other environmental groups to get the European Union to ban the import of illegal timber. The EU agreed to ban illegal timber in July 2010. Since cutting down forests adds to global warming, Greenpeace wants to include reducing deforestation in climate agreements.

Another Greenpeace campaign focuses on reducing palm oil production. This is especially active in Indonesia, where huge areas of forest are used for palm oil plantations. Greenpeace argues that mass palm oil production harms the variety of life in forests. They urge industries and governments to find other energy sources. One success of this campaign was when Golden Agri-Resources, a large palm oil company, promised to protect forests.

Greenpeace also made a popular video in 2016 protesting Nestlé's use of palm oil in Kit Kat bars. The video got over 1 million views. Nestlé then publicly stated they would stop using such practices. In 2018, Greenpeace released an animated short film about an orangutan called Rang-tan to raise awareness about palm oil and deforestation.

Wilmar International Palm-Oil Issue

In 2018, Greenpeace International investigated Wilmar International, the world's largest palm-oil trader. They found that Wilmar was still connected to forest destruction in Papua, Indonesia. A related company had caused deforestation in an area twice the size of Paris. Greenpeace said Wilmar was breaking its 2013 promise to stop deforestation. Greenpeace also linked palm oil from this company to global brands like Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, and Unilever.

Resolute Forest Products Issue

The logging company Resolute Forest Products has sued Greenpeace several times since 2013. In 2020, a court in California ordered Resolute to pay Greenpeace money to cover legal costs. This was because most of the company's claims were rejected. Greenpeace says that Resolute's actions are harming the Boreal forest of Canada. Greenpeace believes these forests are very important for protecting the global climate because they store a lot of carbon.

Tokyo Two

In 2008, two Greenpeace activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, took a case of whale meat from a delivery place in Japan. They wanted to show that they believed the meat from whale hunts was being stolen. After a short investigation, Sato and Suzuki were charged with theft. Amnesty International said that the arrests and searches of Greenpeace's office and homes were meant to scare activists. In 2010, they were found guilty of theft and trespassing.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

European Union members in Brussels presented with a petition of 1 million signatures against GMOs, 2010.

Greenpeace has supported countries like Zambia that refused GM food from the U.S. during a famine. They said that if non-GM grain was available, countries should be allowed to choose it. Greenpeace also suggested that if GM maize had to be accepted, it should be milled (ground into flour) so it couldn't be planted. This was a condition that Zimbabwe and Malawi accepted.

Greenpeace believes that if there is no other choice, then GM food aid should be accepted. But they also stated that the Zambian government chose to refuse it, even though Greenpeace offered advice.

In 2016, over 100 Nobel Prize winners signed an open letter. They asked Greenpeace to stop its campaign against genetically modified crops, especially golden rice. Golden rice is a type of rice that has extra vitamin A, which can help prevent blindness in poor countries. The letter said that opposition based on feelings, not facts, should stop. Greenpeace replied that they support other ways to fight malnutrition, like growing many different kinds of nutritious crops. They said that claims of them blocking golden rice were false.

Toxic Waste

In July 2011, Greenpeace released a report called "Dirty Laundry." It accused some major fashion and sportswear brands of releasing toxic waste into China's rivers. The report highlighted the problem of water pollution from chemicals used in the country's textile industry.

Greenpeace investigated two factories in China. They found dangerous chemicals in the wastewater. These chemicals can disrupt hormones and stay in the environment for a long time. The report said that these factories had business ties with big clothing brands like Adidas, H&M, Nike, and Puma AG.

In 2013, Greenpeace started the "Detox Fashion" campaign. Many fashion brands joined this campaign. They promised to stop releasing toxic chemicals into rivers from making their clothes.

Guide to Greener Electronics

In 2006, Greenpeace published the first "Guide to Greener Electronics." This guide ranked phone and computer makers based on how green they were. It looked at how much toxic material they used and how they handled e-waste.

The rules for ranking were updated in 2011. The goal was to get companies to set goals for reducing greenhouse gases and using 100% renewable energy. They also wanted companies to make products that last longer, are free of dangerous chemicals, and use sustainable practices. Greenpeace checks companies' claims by testing products and looking at public information. This guide has led to many improvements, with companies removing toxic chemicals and improving recycling. The last guide was published in 2017.

Save the Arctic

Polar bear outside Shell's office in London in September, 2015.

Greenpeace started the "Save the Arctic" campaign in 2012 and 2013. They want to stop oil and gas drilling, industrial fishing, and military actions in the Arctic region. They are asking world leaders at the UN to create a "global sanctuary in the high arctic." This would protect the fragile wildlife and ecosystem.

In 2013, 30 activists from the MV Arctic Sunrise were arrested by the Russian Coast Guard. They were protesting at Gazprom's oil platform. They were first charged with piracy, then hooliganism, but later all charges were dropped.

In 2014, Greenpeace launched a global boycott campaign against Lego. They wanted Lego to stop making toys with the oil company Shell's logo. This was because Shell planned to drill for oil in the Arctic. Greenpeace released a video called "LEGO: Everything is NOT awesome" that got over 9 million views. Lego's partnership with Shell started in the 1960s.

Norway

Greenpeace has also protested against oil rigs in the Arctic Ocean in Norway. In 2013, three Greenpeace activists dressed in bear suits climbed onto a Statoil oil rig. They stayed there for about three hours. Greenpeace argued that Statoil's drilling plans were a threat to Bear Island, a wildlife sanctuary with rare species like polar bears. They said an oil spill would be almost impossible to clean up in the Arctic's harsh conditions.

In May 2014, Greenpeace's ship, MV Esperanza, stopped a Statoil oil rig in the Barents Sea from working. Seven activists were on the rig. The Norwegian police eventually removed them peacefully, and they were set free without fines. The Norwegian Coast Guard then towed away the Esperanza. Statoil said the delays cost the company about $1.26 million each day. Greenpeace continues to criticize Statoil, saying the company is "greenwashing" its image while doing risky oil drilling.

Moratorium on Deep Sea Mining

Greenpeace and other environmental groups are calling for a stop to exploratory deep sea mining. This type of mining is approved by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Greenpeace says that mining for metals on the ocean floor could greatly harm the world's oceans. Oceans absorb a quarter of the world's carbon emissions each year.

Deep sea mining also disturbs the homes of many newly discovered species, from crabs to whales. Greenpeace wants the International Seabed Authority to change its rules. They want stronger conservation goals to protect marine life. In 2019, Greenpeace activists protested outside the ISA meeting in Jamaica. They called for a global ocean treaty to ban deep sea mining in ocean sanctuaries.

Ships

Ships have always been very important for Greenpeace campaigns. Greenpeace has also rented other ships when needed. All their ships use marine diesel engines.

Currently in Service

Greenpeace's ship MV Arctic Sunrise in the harbor of Helsinki.

Rainbow Warrior: This is the third ship with this name. It was launched in 2011.
MV Arctic Sunrise
SY Witness

Previously in Service

First Rainbow Warrior

In 1978, Greenpeace launched its first Rainbow Warrior. It was a former fishing boat named after the book Warriors of the Rainbow. This book inspired early activist Robert Hunter. Volunteers worked for four months to fix up the ship.

The Rainbow Warrior quickly became a key part of Greenpeace campaigns. Between 1978 and 1985, its crew protested against dumping toxic and radioactive waste in the ocean. They also protested against seal hunting and nuclear tests in the Pacific. In May 1985, the ship helped move about 300 islanders from Rongelap Atoll. Their home had been contaminated by nuclear fallout from a U.S. nuclear test years before.

Later in 1985, the Rainbow Warrior was going to lead a protest against French nuclear tests at Moruroa atoll. However, the French government secretly bombed the ship in Auckland harbor. This attack killed a Dutch photographer named Fernando Pereira. He went back into the boat to get his camera after a small explosion, but then a second, larger explosion caused him to drown.

This attack was a huge public relations disaster for France when the New Zealand police quickly found out what happened. In 1987, the French Government agreed to pay New Zealand money and formally apologized. They also paid money to the photographer's family.

Second Rainbow Warrior

Greenpeace's second Rainbow Warrior ship arrives in Bali for the 2007 UN climate conference.

In 1989, Greenpeace got a new Rainbow Warrior ship, sometimes called Rainbow Warrior II. It stopped being used in 2011 and was replaced by the third ship. In 2005, the Rainbow Warrior II accidentally hit and damaged the Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines. Greenpeace was fined for the damage and agreed to pay. They said they felt responsible, even though they believed the Philippines government had given them outdated maps.

Reactions to Greenpeace Activities

Greenpeace has faced lawsuits from companies for things like lost profits or damage to their reputation. Some companies, like Royal Dutch Shell and Électricité de France, have spied on Greenpeace activities. Greenpeace activists have also faced phone tapping, death threats, violence, and even state terrorism, like the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

In March 2024, a lawsuit against Greenpeace by Total (an energy company) was dismissed in a Parisian court. Greenpeace had published information about Total's greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace said this decision was important because other similar cases are still in court.

In May 2023, Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office called Greenpeace an "undesirable organization." They accused Greenpeace of getting involved in Russia's internal affairs and harming the country's economy.