When it comes to political action on climate change, it’s the richest nations in the North that demand developing nations also act, which seems fair at first glance.

But it’s the rich nations of the North that reaped the benefits of industrialisation leaving the rest of the world in an economic backwater. And it’s the polluting gases from that industrialisation that’s driving the climate change now reigning down on the developing nations in the global South.

Now that the developing nations are doing just that – developing – they have become the engine of the global economy. Or put another way, unlike when the North jumped ahead economically, the progress in the South benefits the world as a whole.

It’s a cruel irony that now that those developing nations have raised their economic game... Read more >

Our 2012 numbers are in, and we're proud to say that 24 million people now subscribe to Greenpeace information or action alerts around the world. That's 24 million people who don't accept that cataclysmic climate change is acceptable, 24 million people ready to alert their networks to threats to the Earth's oceans and forests, 24 million people prepared to champion sustainable agriculture and a clean, renewable energy revolution.

We define a "Subscriber" as anyone who has given us permission to contact them, be it by email list, a cell phone number, as a Twitter follower, a "like" for one of our our Facebook pages or membership in any of dozens of social media channels we use. A little more than 1 in 10 of our subscribers are also active donors: 2.8 million, and 17,000 people donate time... Read more >

As I flew up the country from Wellington to Auckland this week, on yet another beautiful day, I was struck by the colour of our country.

Brown. Burned to a crisp.  The occasional smattering of green forest, but an island suffering from its worst drought in 70 years, as I’d heard climate scientist Jim Salinger saying on the radio that morning.

Next I’m listening to Bill English saying farmers can’t expect get the same level of support in future droughts, if they continue to happen with more frequency, as NIWA tells us they will.

It’s obviously bad. The Sunday Star Times tells us:

“experts warn it could spell the end for farming as we know it and may cost the country billions of dollars in drought relief each year before practices are adjusted.”

Meanwhile John Key is in Brazil pleading... Read more >

As we mark the second memorial of the March 11, 2011 triple disaster, we see tragedy, but also hope in Japan.

While people mourn for the mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents and children that were lost in the earthquake and tsunami, many of those that fled the natural disaster have been able to return home and rebuild their lives and communities as best they can.

The tragedy continues, however, for those still suffering from the impacts of radioactive contamination from the Fukushima nuclear accident. Many areas remain uninhabitable, leaving 160,000 evacuees stuck in limbo, unable to go home, but also unable to rebuild their lives as they lack proper compensation and support.

Families and communities are breaking up, financial ruin is common, as is divorce and mental breakdowns. Recent est... Read more >

The force is with you and together you made Volkswagen (VW) do a handbrake turn on improving the efficiency of its cars. Something they said they could not do until you cried BS to make VW turn away from the Dark Side!

VW said they couldn't reduce their car CO2 emissions (brace yourself for the boring but important bit):

 "…The 95 g/km Long-Term-Target for 2020 is the result of a political decision taken last year. It is not based on sound impact assessment nor on a realistic appreciation of the costs and technical progress necessary to meet the goal within the timescale…" -- Volkswagen 2010

But 526,000 Greenpeace supporters across the planet have forced VW to change its policy and its cars.

For the past two years VW refused to back a key European law which would make cars more effici... Read more >

Monster fishing boat Margiris (renamed Abel Tasman) was brought to Australia last year with the help of Kiwi investment. This is just the latest in a long series of fishing grounds that this vessel and the rest of the Dutch Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA) fleet has set its sights on, most of which have ended up fished to collapse or their fishing permission terminated amidst controversy. The super trawler's bid to fish in Australian waters was rejected by the Australian Government and it's now on the prowl for a new fishery to feed its insatiable appetite. As the ship leaves Australia, question marks remain over its registration and next destination. Meanwhile UK oceans campaigner Willie MacKenzie looks into the industrialisation of fishing, the scourge of super trawlers, and what... Read more >