5 / FOREWORD
50 years of commitment to a clean and just environment by Jennifer Morgan & Thomas Henningsen
12 / DESTRUCTION
The world in distress. Thirteen shocking images
39 / OUR INCENTIVES Our vision, our mission, our core values
43 / HOPE IN ACTION
118 spirited actions around the globe – on land, at sea, and in the air
143 / A GLOBAL NETWORK Portraits of 51 countries and 54 offices
245 / WHO WE ARE
The power and heart of Greenpeace Our pioneers and founders by Ana Aragas Our volunteer power by Joan Meris & Dietmar Kress Our supporters – four interviews from four continents Our ships by Thomas Henningsen & Fabien Rondal Our outlook for the future by Anabela Rosemberg & Thomas Henningsen 11
5 / FOREWORD
50 years of commitment to a clean and just environment by Jennifer Morgan & Thomas Henningsen
12 / DESTRUCTION
The world in distress. Thirteen shocking images
39 / OUR INCENTIVES Our vision, our mission, our core values
43 / HOPE IN ACTION
118 spirited actions around the globe – on land, at sea, and in the air
143 / A GLOBAL NETWORK Portraits of 51 countries and 54 offices
245 / WHO WE ARE
The power and heart of Greenpeace Our pioneers and founders by Ana Aragas Our volunteer power by Joan Meris & Dietmar Kress Our supporters – four interviews from four continents Our ships by Thomas Henningsen & Fabien Rondal Our outlook for the future by Anabela Rosemberg & Thomas Henningsen 11
Unforgivable environmental destruction Complete destruction of a primaeval forest area in Papua/ Indonesia for the irresponsible expansion of oil palm monocultures. Palm oil is used in many foods, cosmetics and often even so-called biodiesel in Europe and North America, and is a major cause of rainforest destruction 1 April 2018
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Unforgivable environmental destruction Complete destruction of a primaeval forest area in Papua/ Indonesia for the irresponsible expansion of oil palm monocultures. Palm oil is used in many foods, cosmetics and often even so-called biodiesel in Europe and North America, and is a major cause of rainforest destruction 1 April 2018
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»Point of no return« The polar regions are melting at a dramatic rate, affecting the climate and life all over the world. In August 2020, after years of study, Ohio State University declared a »point of no return« for Greenland’s gigantic ice sheet, which is up to three kilometres thick. A dangerous global tipping point because the melting, which will mean a sea level rise of around seven metres, is unstoppable, scientists say 17 March 2017
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»Point of no return« The polar regions are melting at a dramatic rate, affecting the climate and life all over the world. In August 2020, after years of study, Ohio State University declared a »point of no return« for Greenland’s gigantic ice sheet, which is up to three kilometres thick. A dangerous global tipping point because the melting, which will mean a sea level rise of around seven metres, is unstoppable, scientists say 17 March 2017
16
Global die off of corals Corals, which are a species of cnidaria, live in close symbiosis with the smallest single-cell algae (zooxanthellae), which lend the corals their colourful appearance. This symbiosis usually has a very sensitive reaction to environmental changes. Even small temperature changes can cause the coral-algae relationship to break down. The stone corals lose their wonderful colours, are bleached, and die if the conditions do not change again. The current climate change may already result in a mass extinction of the corals, and according to the World Biodiversity Forum, a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius could kill off 70 to 90 percent of the stone corals, with 2 degrees causing 99 percent to die. This would mean that the most biodiverse biocoenosis found in the oceans, which has been developing for around 225 million years, could be wiped out in just a few decades – with incalculable consequences for all life on earth. This is one more dramatic result of the climate change caused by humans, and another reason to finally take consistent action against it 1 March 2017
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Global die off of corals Corals, which are a species of cnidaria, live in close symbiosis with the smallest single-cell algae (zooxanthellae), which lend the corals their colourful appearance. This symbiosis usually has a very sensitive reaction to environmental changes. Even small temperature changes can cause the coral-algae relationship to break down. The stone corals lose their wonderful colours, are bleached, and die if the conditions do not change again. The current climate change may already result in a mass extinction of the corals, and according to the World Biodiversity Forum, a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius could kill off 70 to 90 percent of the stone corals, with 2 degrees causing 99 percent to die. This would mean that the most biodiverse biocoenosis found in the oceans, which has been developing for around 225 million years, could be wiped out in just a few decades – with incalculable consequences for all life on earth. This is one more dramatic result of the climate change caused by humans, and another reason to finally take consistent action against it 1 March 2017
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A pianist in the Arctic Famous Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi plays one of his compositions on a floating platform in the Arctic ice of Spitsbergen. Over ten million signatures from around the world call for the protection of the Arctic as a unique habitat and an important climate cooling chamber for our planet 16 June 2016
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A pianist in the Arctic Famous Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi plays one of his compositions on a floating platform in the Arctic ice of Spitsbergen. Over ten million signatures from around the world call for the protection of the Arctic as a unique habitat and an important climate cooling chamber for our planet 16 June 2016
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» Ice crust The deck of our Greenpeace ship on its way to Antarctica, covered in thick ice 1 December 1992
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» Word Base Camp Greenpeace built its own Antarctic station, the World Base Camp, from which it successfully fought against the pollution and degradation caused by the many Antarctic stations between 1987 and 1991. After an intensive worldwide campaign lasting seven years, a conservation agreement was in fact reached for the entire Antarctic continent which, among other things, prohibits the mining of raw materials and created the very first World Park – all activities on the continent are now exclusively for the benefit of science and peace. The purpose of our Antarctic station was fulfilled, therefore our World Base Camp was completely dismantled and all material carefully removed from Antarctica 1 February 1989
» Ice crust The deck of our Greenpeace ship on its way to Antarctica, covered in thick ice 1 December 1992
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» Word Base Camp Greenpeace built its own Antarctic station, the World Base Camp, from which it successfully fought against the pollution and degradation caused by the many Antarctic stations between 1987 and 1991. After an intensive worldwide campaign lasting seven years, a conservation agreement was in fact reached for the entire Antarctic continent which, among other things, prohibits the mining of raw materials and created the very first World Park – all activities on the continent are now exclusively for the benefit of science and peace. The purpose of our Antarctic station was fulfilled, therefore our World Base Camp was completely dismantled and all material carefully removed from Antarctica 1 February 1989
Coca Cola’s toxic legacy A Greenpeace diver from our ship arctic sunrise reveals who is arguably the biggest plastic polluter on earth. Our ship has sailed the giant plastic vortex in the North Pacific, which now had an area of 1.6 million square kilometres, 40 times the size of Switzerland. It is home to an unimaginable 80,000 tonnes of plastic waste, which will remain in the environment for up to 600 years, threatening nature, wildlife and humans 2 October 2018
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Mexico suffers from plastic waste Even in areas under protection, plastic pollution has become a major problem. Plastic threatens natural habitats and rare animals, such as here in the Sian Ka’an nature reserve in the Riviera Maya district. Greenpeace calls for a »Mexico without plastic« 21 November 2019
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Coca Cola’s toxic legacy A Greenpeace diver from our ship arctic sunrise reveals who is arguably the biggest plastic polluter on earth. Our ship has sailed the giant plastic vortex in the North Pacific, which now had an area of 1.6 million square kilometres, 40 times the size of Switzerland. It is home to an unimaginable 80,000 tonnes of plastic waste, which will remain in the environment for up to 600 years, threatening nature, wildlife and humans 2 October 2018
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Mexico suffers from plastic waste Even in areas under protection, plastic pollution has become a major problem. Plastic threatens natural habitats and rare animals, such as here in the Sian Ka’an nature reserve in the Riviera Maya district. Greenpeace calls for a »Mexico without plastic« 21 November 2019
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Greenpeace Taiwan (East Asia Taipei Office) founded 2010 No plastic, no coal – but clean oceans, healthy forests and fair labour In June 2010, Greenpeace was officially registered in Taiwan, with sustainable distant water fishery being the key objective of its first campaign. Field investigations and reports allowed Greenpeace to expose the reality of overfishing, illegal transhipment, and the huge bycatch resulting from industrial fishing operations. In collaboration with other Greenpeace offices, we continue to expose the scourge that the forced labour of fishermen from Indonesia represents, and how it relates to the international export market in the U.S.A. All in all, the campaigns aimed at the relevant corporate and government entities in Taiwan have increased the pressure to protect our oceans and ensure basic rights for vulnerable workers. Over the years, we’ve fought against the use of toxins in food, water, fashion, as well as responding to global campaigns to reduce air pollution and deforestation, to protect the Arctic and the world’s oceans – raising our profile with the public and resulting in offices being set up in two more cities, Taichung and Kaohsiung – allowing us to reach more potential members and encourage community involvement. After a series of campaigns to raise awareness about plastic reduction, the government finally announced a ban on microplastics in 2016. In 2018, coastal debris screening was carried out for one year; and from 2019 on, we began to target nine major retailers to encourage them to reduce their use of singleuse plastics, advising them to implement reuse and refill systems – a campaign that received support from more than 150,000 people.
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Tackling the climate emergency is also a top priority for us. In 2018, with more than 120,000 people having signed a petition, we successfully stopped the planned upgrades to the Shenao coal-fired power plant. In 2020, we revealed that bulk electricity users are responsible for 30 % of all carbon emissions in Taiwan, and that the energy transition will play a fundamental role in realising net zero emissions by 2050. After 11 years of hard work, and having started out with a small donor base, we now have more than 84,000 donors, 210,000 supporters, and 685,000 subscribers on social media. This enormous growth only makes us more determined to protect the environment, and continue the fight for a sustainable future.
Climbing against coal Greenpeace climbers successfully convey a message against the planned expansion of the Shenao coal-fired power station. The power plant pollutes the air and harms the climate 14 September 2018
Greenpeace Taiwan (East Asia Taipei Office) founded 2010 No plastic, no coal – but clean oceans, healthy forests and fair labour In June 2010, Greenpeace was officially registered in Taiwan, with sustainable distant water fishery being the key objective of its first campaign. Field investigations and reports allowed Greenpeace to expose the reality of overfishing, illegal transhipment, and the huge bycatch resulting from industrial fishing operations. In collaboration with other Greenpeace offices, we continue to expose the scourge that the forced labour of fishermen from Indonesia represents, and how it relates to the international export market in the U.S.A. All in all, the campaigns aimed at the relevant corporate and government entities in Taiwan have increased the pressure to protect our oceans and ensure basic rights for vulnerable workers. Over the years, we’ve fought against the use of toxins in food, water, fashion, as well as responding to global campaigns to reduce air pollution and deforestation, to protect the Arctic and the world’s oceans – raising our profile with the public and resulting in offices being set up in two more cities, Taichung and Kaohsiung – allowing us to reach more potential members and encourage community involvement. After a series of campaigns to raise awareness about plastic reduction, the government finally announced a ban on microplastics in 2016. In 2018, coastal debris screening was carried out for one year; and from 2019 on, we began to target nine major retailers to encourage them to reduce their use of singleuse plastics, advising them to implement reuse and refill systems – a campaign that received support from more than 150,000 people.
232
Tackling the climate emergency is also a top priority for us. In 2018, with more than 120,000 people having signed a petition, we successfully stopped the planned upgrades to the Shenao coal-fired power plant. In 2020, we revealed that bulk electricity users are responsible for 30 % of all carbon emissions in Taiwan, and that the energy transition will play a fundamental role in realising net zero emissions by 2050. After 11 years of hard work, and having started out with a small donor base, we now have more than 84,000 donors, 210,000 supporters, and 685,000 subscribers on social media. This enormous growth only makes us more determined to protect the environment, and continue the fight for a sustainable future.
Climbing against coal Greenpeace climbers successfully convey a message against the planned expansion of the Shenao coal-fired power station. The power plant pollutes the air and harms the climate 14 September 2018
Future Views for … what next
The fate of life on this planet depends on people organising in huge numbers to imagine and create ways to live with equity and in harmony with other living beings. On fighting the powers that have deepened our ecological crisis with their greed for material wealth and power. What is Greenpeace’s role in strengthening that web of action? There is no moment in human history that can be considered as non-decisive. And this one is not an exception. The forces of extractivism and fossil fuel expansion and use, global and industrialised food chains, consumerism promotion, are holding us back, driving climate chaos and loss of life and aggravating inequalities, rights abuses, violence and conflict. The past 50 years – as all the sections of this book illustrate – Greenpeace has committed its energy in accompanying, supporting, and sometimes inspiring the movement for life and wellbeing on this planet. Sometimes we got it right, and with many others, we won. Sometimes we did not. But there is no day where we don’t try to get better. Greenpeace, as a network, as an idea, needs to keep imagining new ways to confront those powers and support all who are willing to build a better future. Our fights, our demands, our ideas about the futures we need look a bit different from the ones of our beginnings, as we keep trying to understand the root causes of the problems and challenges, we face. THOSE DEMANDS ARE THE ONES OF AN EVER-GROWING DIVERSE COLLECTIVE: • People and all life on the planet must be put above profits and power for a few and economic growth. The investments and regulations that could make our lives better and our societies capable to nurture life in Earth are often ignored, delayed or openly opposed, as they are not considered the priority for our decision makers. • Wealth and power need to be more equitably distributed – a few individuals and corporations are responsible for a majority of the emissions and ecosystems destruction. • Environmental destruction, pollution, climate impacts hit first
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and foremost the least privileged. Our societies must address and repair centuries of oppression on different groups – key for all of us to build a peaceful future. There is no peace without equity and no green without peace. Justice is the path as much as it is the destination. • Our societies must strive for the wellbeing of all citizens as well as for strengthening the resilience of their communities. At times of disruption and crisis, we need people to be given the space to come together, reconnect and protect each other. WITH THOSE GOALS IN OUR HORIZON, THESE DAYS GREENPEACE IS MOBILISING FOR VERY CONCRETE SOLUTIONS: • Implement the energy revolution worldwide – leaving fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas- behind, removing their influence from our lives and governments, accompanying workers and communities into new opportunities and shifting to a society that embraces the enormous potential of regenerative energies – wind, sun, geothermal energy-, secures its access for everyone and ensure it is not wasted senselessly, and as soon as possible retrofitting and insulating homes (especially in vulnerable communities and areas), public buildings and facilities. • Protect and restore nature, including through the commitment to protect at least 30% of our lands and oceans by 2030, in partnership with, and not against local and indigenous communities. • Moving away from disposable and single use plastic products and consumer and trade packaging. Establish targets for recycling and composting and ensure adequate conditions for workers in this chain. Support initiatives that extend the concept of circular economy towards “slowing the loop” as well as closing the loop. • Increased access to healthy food for all and provide livelihoods of farmers, while at the same time driving a change in dietary habits/consumption patterns including setting targets for the reduction of meat/dairy consumed. • New generations must be able to access to information on the real drivers of the ecological crisis and the systemic solutions to solve it, as well as to opportunities to reconnect with nature.
That is why fruitful cooperation between the environmental movement and youth from all over the world is so important - with the future generation. • Transform our taxation systems to ensure justice and better distribution of wealth and resources, putting additional fiscal pressure on companies and wealthy individuals who have the highest environmental footprint, and creating schemes that protect the most vulnerable households in the transition. • No one should be left with basic needs unfulfilled. A healthy and biodiverse environment, food, mobility, healthcare, housing, education, and culture are rights that must be secured outside profit making entities. Regulations up to and including bans that protect the environment and the climate must be done with the intention of securing the rights of current and future generations of people.
The rainbow symbolises how fascination, beautiful and diverse nature is – and also provides Greenpeace with a symbol of courage, hope and dedication
Those high ambitions require our mobilisation, our commitment, but most importantly our imagination and relentless optimism. Far from seeing in our past successes a reason to repeat ourselves in the same ways of doing, those victories are an inspiration to keep trying to be innovative and surprising and keep touching hearts and minds with new stories of hope and action. Many things have changed in Greenpeace since its creation Things we are very proud of, such as our growing presence and diversity of approaches in Global South geographies, the role given to women and gender diversity across the network, the ongoing shift to challenge some of the inadvertently but damaging colonial narratives we were perpetuating, our shift from being lone heroes to being a proud member and ally in a diverse global movement. One thing has not changed - the belief by every single person who makes Greenpeace - volunteers, friends, supporters, staff – that in action we find hope. And that hope drives us onwards for more, with our minds open and our hearts full of love.
267
Future Views for … what next
The fate of life on this planet depends on people organising in huge numbers to imagine and create ways to live with equity and in harmony with other living beings. On fighting the powers that have deepened our ecological crisis with their greed for material wealth and power. What is Greenpeace’s role in strengthening that web of action? There is no moment in human history that can be considered as non-decisive. And this one is not an exception. The forces of extractivism and fossil fuel expansion and use, global and industrialised food chains, consumerism promotion, are holding us back, driving climate chaos and loss of life and aggravating inequalities, rights abuses, violence and conflict. The past 50 years – as all the sections of this book illustrate – Greenpeace has committed its energy in accompanying, supporting, and sometimes inspiring the movement for life and wellbeing on this planet. Sometimes we got it right, and with many others, we won. Sometimes we did not. But there is no day where we don’t try to get better. Greenpeace, as a network, as an idea, needs to keep imagining new ways to confront those powers and support all who are willing to build a better future. Our fights, our demands, our ideas about the futures we need look a bit different from the ones of our beginnings, as we keep trying to understand the root causes of the problems and challenges, we face. THOSE DEMANDS ARE THE ONES OF AN EVER-GROWING DIVERSE COLLECTIVE: • People and all life on the planet must be put above profits and power for a few and economic growth. The investments and regulations that could make our lives better and our societies capable to nurture life in Earth are often ignored, delayed or openly opposed, as they are not considered the priority for our decision makers. • Wealth and power need to be more equitably distributed – a few individuals and corporations are responsible for a majority of the emissions and ecosystems destruction. • Environmental destruction, pollution, climate impacts hit first
266
and foremost the least privileged. Our societies must address and repair centuries of oppression on different groups – key for all of us to build a peaceful future. There is no peace without equity and no green without peace. Justice is the path as much as it is the destination. • Our societies must strive for the wellbeing of all citizens as well as for strengthening the resilience of their communities. At times of disruption and crisis, we need people to be given the space to come together, reconnect and protect each other. WITH THOSE GOALS IN OUR HORIZON, THESE DAYS GREENPEACE IS MOBILISING FOR VERY CONCRETE SOLUTIONS: • Implement the energy revolution worldwide – leaving fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas- behind, removing their influence from our lives and governments, accompanying workers and communities into new opportunities and shifting to a society that embraces the enormous potential of regenerative energies – wind, sun, geothermal energy-, secures its access for everyone and ensure it is not wasted senselessly, and as soon as possible retrofitting and insulating homes (especially in vulnerable communities and areas), public buildings and facilities. • Protect and restore nature, including through the commitment to protect at least 30% of our lands and oceans by 2030, in partnership with, and not against local and indigenous communities. • Moving away from disposable and single use plastic products and consumer and trade packaging. Establish targets for recycling and composting and ensure adequate conditions for workers in this chain. Support initiatives that extend the concept of circular economy towards “slowing the loop” as well as closing the loop. • Increased access to healthy food for all and provide livelihoods of farmers, while at the same time driving a change in dietary habits/consumption patterns including setting targets for the reduction of meat/dairy consumed. • New generations must be able to access to information on the real drivers of the ecological crisis and the systemic solutions to solve it, as well as to opportunities to reconnect with nature.
That is why fruitful cooperation between the environmental movement and youth from all over the world is so important - with the future generation. • Transform our taxation systems to ensure justice and better distribution of wealth and resources, putting additional fiscal pressure on companies and wealthy individuals who have the highest environmental footprint, and creating schemes that protect the most vulnerable households in the transition. • No one should be left with basic needs unfulfilled. A healthy and biodiverse environment, food, mobility, healthcare, housing, education, and culture are rights that must be secured outside profit making entities. Regulations up to and including bans that protect the environment and the climate must be done with the intention of securing the rights of current and future generations of people.
The rainbow symbolises how fascination, beautiful and diverse nature is – and also provides Greenpeace with a symbol of courage, hope and dedication
Those high ambitions require our mobilisation, our commitment, but most importantly our imagination and relentless optimism. Far from seeing in our past successes a reason to repeat ourselves in the same ways of doing, those victories are an inspiration to keep trying to be innovative and surprising and keep touching hearts and minds with new stories of hope and action. Many things have changed in Greenpeace since its creation Things we are very proud of, such as our growing presence and diversity of approaches in Global South geographies, the role given to women and gender diversity across the network, the ongoing shift to challenge some of the inadvertently but damaging colonial narratives we were perpetuating, our shift from being lone heroes to being a proud member and ally in a diverse global movement. One thing has not changed - the belief by every single person who makes Greenpeace - volunteers, friends, supporters, staff – that in action we find hope. And that hope drives us onwards for more, with our minds open and our hearts full of love.
267
HOPE IN ACTION
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HOPE IN ACTION
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