Controversial climate group facing bankruptcy, how did it get here?
Greenpeace, an international environmentalist group, has been at the center of several highly controversial environmental cases over the years and has been accused of hiring protesters and rioters to advance their cause.
Most recently, Greenpeace was found liable for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages resulting from a pipeline protest. The group recently said that such a ruling could "shut down Greenpeace USA."
Here are some of the top cases that got Greenpeace to the dire straits it is in right now.
More than 800 people were arrested in 2016 during a monthslong protest, led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, opposing construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), an oil pipeline that runs from North Dakota to Illinois.
Energy Transfer, the developer of the pipeline, sued Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace International for $300 million on claims the climate groups orchestrated the protests by providing resources to the activists and, therefore, were liable for the expenses that resulted from construction being postponed.
In March 2025, a North Dakota jury found Greenpeace liable for about $660 million resulting from the protest.
"Our lawsuit is about recovering damages for the harm Greenpeace caused our company. It is not about free speech. Their organizing, funding, and encouraging the unlawful destruction of property and the dissemination of misinformation goes well beyond the exercise of free speech. We look forward to proving our case, and we trust the North Dakota legal system to do that."
The weekslong Morton County trial, which began in late February, heard testimony that claimed that Greenpeace not only trained the DAPL protesters, but purchased supplies to aid their resistance.
Greenpeace described the battle as "one of the most consequential free speech cases in recent history."
Greenpeace settled a lawsuit with Shell after four individuals affiliated with the group boarded and occupied a Shell oil company vessel for two weeks in 2023.
The activists "unlawfully scaled" a moving vessel in the North Sea while carrying a banner reading "Stop Drilling. Start Paying."
Because of this incident, Greenpeace was ordered to make a payment of 300k pounds to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the group was barred from going within 500 meters of a Shell platform in the North Sea.
In 2020, the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled against Greenpeace's attempt to block new oil exploration in the country.
Greenpeace was joined by Young Friends of the Earth Norway in a 2016 lawsuit filed against the Norwegian Government after several new oil and gas leases were granted in the Balian Sea.
The lawsuit, known as "People vs. the Arctic," was the first case to challenge the country's constitution on environmental rights. The environmental groups claimed that the Arctic drilling would violate Section 112 of the Norwegian Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to a healthy environment.
Despite extensive appeals, Greenpeace failed to secure a single victory in the Norwegian court system, which found at every level that the government in that they did not violate the country's constitution.
Commenting on the North Dakota ruling, a representative for Energy Transfer told Fox News Digital it was "very pleased that Greenpeace has been held accountable for their actions against us and that the jury recognized these were not law-abiding, peaceful protests as Greenpeace tried to claim."
The representative said their victory was shared with the local native tribe and people throughout North Dakota who "had to live through the daily harassment and disruptions caused by the protesters who were funded and trained by Greenpeace."
"It is also a win for all law-abiding Americans who understand the difference between the right to free speech and breaking the law," said the representative, adding, "that Greenpeace has been held responsible is a win for all of us."
Sushma Raman, a representative for Greenpeace USA, told Fox News Digital that the group will be appealing the decision, saying, "we will not back down from this fight, and we will not be silenced."
Raman said that Energy Transfer "knows we don't have $660 million" and claimed "they want our silence, not our money."
"This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations," she said. "It's part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponize our courts to silence dissent. We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment, and lawsuits like this aimed at destroying our rights to peaceful protest and free speech."
A representative for Greenpeace International pointed out to Fox News Digital that the ruling does not impact Greenpeace's 24 other national and regional organizations. The representative said these groups will "continue functioning as normal even in the worst case scenario."
The representative also pointed out that Greenpeace is counter-suing Energy Transfer in a Netherlands court to recover all fines lost in the North Dakota case.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Diplomatic Theater Leaves Crude Markets Unmoved
The Trump-Putin and subsequent Trump-Zelenskiy meetings provided ample talking points for the markets at large; however, the lack of sanctioning threats has been mostly a bearish factor for crude prices. The price drops of late have been relatively tiny, with ICE Brent still trading around $66 per barrel, yet the upside from here seems to be minimal, barring a sudden escalation. Beijing Bags Barrels as Indian Refiners Mull Their Russia Options - According to media reports, Chinese refineries have purchased at least 15 cargoes for October and November delivery as India's state-owned refineries limit their imports of Russian crude amidst rising geopolitical tensions. - Russia's medium sour Urals grade, accounting for more than half of its oil exports, tends to flow mostly to India because of shorter logistics from the Black Sea and Baltic Sea ports of the country. - Chinese refiners have imported only two cargoes of Urals in June, only one in July, however as India's demand started to wane, they've scooped up at least 10 tankers for October, quadrupling their intake compared to the 2025 average of 40,000 b/d. - Soaring Chinese imports of Russian oil are also a reaction to higher Middle Eastern prices, after Saudi Aramco hiked its September-loading formula prices to a $3.20 per barrel premium over Oman/Dubai. Market Movers- UK-based energy major Shell (LON:SHEL) has transferred its stakes in four contiguous blocks in the central part of the Gulf of Mexico to BP (NYSE:BP), indicating that the high-impact Penguin prospect might've turned out to be dry. - Algeria's state oil company Sonatrach has struck oil in Libya, confirming prospective resources at in the onshore Block 065 it operates, just south of the Wafa field that produces 40,000 b/d of crude.- US utility company Black Hills (NYSE:BLK) agreed to purchase its industry peer NorthWestern Energy for $3.6 billion in an all-stock deal, marking another important step in America's power M&A landscape. - Italy's energy major ENI (BIT:ENI) agreed to sell a 49.99% stake in its carbon capture and storage projects to BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) subsidiary GIP, mostly covering upstream assets in the North Sea. Tuesday, August 19, 2025 The Trump-Putin and subsequent Trump-Zelenskiy meetings provided ample talking points for the markets at large, however the lack of sanctioning threats has been mostly a bearish factor for crude prices. The price drops of late have been relatively tiny, with ICE Brent still trading around $66 per barrel, yet the upside from here seems to be minimal, barring a sudden escalation. US Keeps Pressure on India's Russian Imports. Writing an op-ed in the Financial Times, Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro said India's purchases of Russian oil were funding Moscow's war effort in Ukraine, just as a planned visit from US trade negotiators to New Delhi next week was called off. China Floods the Market with Products. Chinese exports of refined products rose to a 13-month high of 5.34 million tonnes last month, marking a 7% increase year-on-year, driven primarily by diesel flows as Europe continued to buy long-haul volumes, whilst domestic demand in China wanes. Iran Halts Power Exports to Iraq. Iran halted electricity exports to neighbouring Iraq, citing a surge in domestic consumption as the country's power demand jumped to 77 GW, whilst Tehran had to ratchet up its own power imports from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to prevent blackouts. China's LNG Import Slide Continues. With China's LNG imports trending 20% compared to 2024 readings, July arrivals to the world's once-largest LNG importer totalled only 35.51 million tonnes LNG, marking the ninth straight month of annual declines as JKM prices remain above $11/ Eyes Modular Refinery Bonanza. Indonesia's government plans to build at least 17 modular refineries across the country, with the country's sovereign wealth fund Danantara keen to sign an $8 billion deal with US engineering firm KBR (NYSE:KBR) despite profitability concerns. Norway's LNG Troubles Continue. The Hammerfest LNG terminal in Norway's Arctic was forced to shut its production of LNG this weekend due to an overheating electric transformer, less than two weeks after operator Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) restarted operations after a three-month maintenance. Brazil's Regulator Halts Output at Key FPSO. Brazil's largest independent oil producer Prio (BVMF:PRIO3) admitted that the country's local regulator had ordered a full production halt at its 100,000 b/d Peregrino FPSO, citing the need for improvements in risk management documentation. Glencore Doubles Down on Argentinian Copper. Global mining giant Glencore (LON:GLEN) has submitted applications to Argentina's authorities for RIGI tax incentives, vowing to develop the $4 billion Agua Rica and $9.5 billion El Pachon copper mines in the country, creating 2,500 new jobs. Ukraine Strikes Halt Russian Pipeline. Ukraine's military confirmed that its drones struck an oil pumping station in Russia's Tambov region feeding the Druzhba pipeline that supplies some 210,000 b/d of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, halting pipeline transportation in the conduit completely. ADNOC's Purchase of Santos Delayed Again. Australia's upstream giant Santos (ASX:STO) announced that the ADNOC-led consortium, comprising Abu Dhabi's holding company ADQ and PE firm Carlyle, will not be able to finalize its $18.7 billion bid for the producer for at least a month. Trump Promises to Slap Tariffs on Semiconductors. US President Donald Trump vowed to introduce tariffs on imports of steel and semiconductor chips over the coming weeks, adding that rates would be lower at the start to allow companies to relocate their manufacturing to the United States. US Miner Calls Off Giant Coking Coal Deal. US mining firm Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) terminated its planned purchase of Anglo American's Australian coking coal assets, failing to adjust the $3.8 billion purchase price after a fire at the Moranbah North mine, paving the way for arbitration. Russia's Dormant LNG Giant Awakens. Four LNG carriers linked to Novatek's (MCX:NVTK) 19.8 mtpa Arctic LNG 2 project are headed towards Asia along the Northern Sea Route, putting an end to months of little activity as both the ships and the project remain under stringent US sanctions. By Tom Kool for More Top Reads From this article on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Decatur man accused of leaving dog tied to sewer grate in rainstorm
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A Decatur man is facing misdemeanor charges that include animal cruelty after police said his dog was found tied to a sewer grate in a driving rainstorm. The dog was discovered at the Shell gas station on Wyckles Road Tuesday afternoon. Deputy Chief Scott Rosenbery said bystanders reported the dog and officers were dispatched to check on its welfare. 'When they arrived, they assessed the dog, about five months old, in basically knee-high (for the dog) water in the parking lot,' Rosenbery said. 'They cut the leash, got the dog out of the water.' Possible sighting of David Jordan reported in Sibley; 'avoid the area,' State Police says Witnesses helped officers locate the dog's owner at the nearby America's Best Value Inn, where he was placed under arrest. Rosenbery identified him as Michael J. Thompson. Court records indicate Thompson is 39 years old and from Decatur. He is facing a Class A misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and two Class B misdemeanor counts of abandoning his duties as an animal owner. He appeared in court on Wednesday for arraignment and was granted pretrial release. Records show that, among other conditions of release, Judge Lindsey Shelton ordered that he not be the primary caretaker of any companion animal. Thompson is due back in court on Sept. 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
The hidden net zero tax crushing British industry
When Britain's last coal plant shut down in 2024, climate activists hailed it as a triumph for green energy. 'Just over a decade ago, coal made up nearly two fifths of UK electricity generation, but the rapid advance of renewables has made it obsolete,' declared Greenpeace. But what really killed King Coal wasn't renewables – it was taxes. In 2015, the Government doubled the carbon tax levied on fossil fuel power stations, effectively crippling the business model of coal-fired plants. This was in an attempt to slash emissions – and by that measure it has been hugely successful. But now these same taxes are pushing up electricity prices for households and squeezing the life out of British industry, experts and businesses say. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire tycoon behind petrochemicals empire Ineos, has warned that carbon pricing is 'killing manufacturing' and increasing the UK's dependence on imports from countries with less stringent standards, such as China. 'The reason we get frustrated, and the reason that we criticise carbon costs, is because the Government can do something about this at the slash of a pen, if it wishes,' says Stuart Collings, the boss of Ineos's chemical plant in Grangemouth, Scotland. Collings says carbon taxes are costing the Ineos plant 'tens of millions of pounds' per year and severely denting its competitiveness when compared to rival factories in the US and Asia. With Sir Jim's wider business having subsidised the Grangemouth plant to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds in recent years, patience is beginning to wear thin. 'We're already facing energy costs which are much higher than other countries, so we're inherently uncompetitive because of that, and then this carbon tax is put on top,' says Collings. 'Frankly, it's bonkers.' The aim of carbon taxes is to incentivise businesses to cut emissions of CO2, which is blamed for causing global warming. In the UK, this is essentially done in two ways: through an emissions 'trading' scheme and another system known as carbon price support. An emissions trading scheme was first introduced in 2005, when Britain was still a member of the European Union. Under the system, heavy emitters such as factories, airlines and power stations are assigned carbon credit 'allowances' covering a set limit of emissions. When they exceed this limit, companies must buy extra credits from others that have a surplus. Credits are traded on an open market with a floating carbon price. However, when the financial crisis led to an industrial slump that crashed the European carbon price, the Government introduced the supplementary 'carbon price support' in 2013 to deter emissions. Initially set at £4.94 per tonne of CO2, this was charged to power stations burning coal, gas, biomass or oil and was later increased to £9.55 in 2014 and then £18 in 2015, amid fears that a global coal supply glut risked a resurgence in its use because of plunging prices. Because burning a tonne of coal produces about 47pc more carbon dioxide than burning natural gas, the 2015 increase played a major role in the demise of coal power stations. However, the carbon price support still remains in place 10 years later – even after the demise of coal – and is now weighing on the price of power bills paid by millions of households and businesses. In July, the average cost of power generated by gas-fired plants was £79.24 per megawatt hour. Of this, £25.64 or 32pc was carbon taxes, according to figures published by the think tank Ember. This is important as most of the time, gas power plants set prices for the rest of the electricity market – meaning the cost of carbon taxes is inflating everyone's bills. Ed Hezlet, head of energy at the think tank Centre for British Progress, calculates that the levies accounted for about 7.5pc or £70 per year of a typical household's power bill. 'These carbon prices are a policy choice that increases the cost of electricity to consumers,' he explains. 'I think they were rational whilst coal was still on the grid, but they need to be re-examined given the demise of coal in the UK.' Meanwhile, carbon pricing has also been squeezing industrial businesses, who complain that their overseas rivals do not face the same steep costs. This is because the UK enforces a strict 'cap and floor' emissions trading system that forces them to account for their carbon emissions and pay for anything above a set ceiling. Not all countries enforce such taxes, and many do not set the same limits as the UK. The emissions trading system is designed to reduce the available number of credits each year, putting pressure on companies to slash their emissions. Since 2021, the cap on emissions allowed has fallen from 156m tonnes of CO2 to 86.7m tonnes. By 2030, it will be cut further to 50m tonnes. In line with this, the allowances of free credits handed out to companies is also shrinking every year. A hypothetical steel company could be given 100,000 credits, representing 100,000 tonnes of CO2, to start with, for example. But it might then only receive 90,000 credits the next year. If it still generates 100,000 tonnes worth of CO2, it must go to the market to buy an extra 10,000 credits. However, the shrinking supply of credits each year puts upward pressure on prices and ramps up pressure on businesses to cut their emissions. On Friday, the UK carbon price was about £70 per tonne, according to Bloomberg. This can create something of a 'catch-22 situation' for cash-strapped companies, which face ever-larger tax bills unless they can find the money to invest in greener equipment, says Dr Hasan Muslemani, of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. For the hypothetical steel maker, this might include switching to an electric arc furnace or using hydrogen-based direct reduction. Tata Steel, which runs the UK's largest steel mill in Port Talbot, Wales, shut down its blast furnaces last year and is switching to an electric arc furnace partly for this reason. It is understood that the company, which laid off 2,500 workers last year, would have faced a carbon tax bill of £400m a year by the 2030s otherwise. The electric arc furnace that it is acquiring will partly be financed by a £500m grant from the Government. Meanwhile, British Glass, an industry association, complains that glassmakers who want to transition to electrically powered furnaces that will cut their emissions are routinely told it will take years to secure grid connections – meaning they risk being forced to pay the higher taxes through no fault of their own. Carbon taxes have also been cited as a major factor in chemical factory closures across the UK. 'UK manufacturers face a higher operational cost than their overseas competitors, whilst at the same time their ability to reduce their emissions is limited by the availability of low carbon fuels like electricity and hydrogen,' the Chemical Industries Association says. 'These two factors together diminish the competitiveness of UK industry and put at risk the loss of domestic manufacturing capacity in favour of overseas production.' Plans to link the UK carbon trading scheme with the EU's could drive prices higher. However, supporters say this will also ensure the two jurisdictions can share a 'carbon border' where goods imported from outside will pay carbon taxes, ensuring more of a level playing field. That depends, however, on other countries accurately measuring them, says Dr Muslemani. Back in Grangemouth, this is one of the factors now threatening the viability of the Ineos plant. 'In terms of what the Government can influence, I think it's a lot easier for them to do something about carbon costs than it is about the price of gas, frankly,' says Collings. A government spokesman said: 'Accelerating to net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and at the heart of the government's mission to boost growth, create jobs and tackle the climate crisis. 'A strong UK Emissions Trading Scheme will play a key role driving green investment as part of a broader industrial strategy, creating jobs and growing the UK's economy. 'Our Modern Industrial Strategy will also unlock the potential of British industry by slashing industrial electricity prices in key sectors.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
