{"id":51632,"date":"2021-12-13T12:22:29","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T17:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=51632"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:08:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:08:19","slug":"five-top-environmental-wins-of-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/51632\/five-top-environmental-wins-of-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Five of the top environmental wins of 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Here are some of our favourite environmental victories of 2021 that Greenpeace supporters helped achieve both here in Canada and around the world.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<lite-youtube style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/KFC8UsvPIT8\/hqdefault.jpg');\" videoid=\"KFC8UsvPIT8\" params=\"rel=0\"><\/lite-youtube>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Defeating two fossil fuel megaprojects in Canada<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/a5985639-gp1suwpl_web_size_with_credit_line.jpg\" alt=\"A big banner reads \u201cGNL: t\u2019as pas le go, Legault!\u201d in Montreal, Quebec.\" class=\"wp-image-51637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/a5985639-gp1suwpl_web_size_with_credit_line.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/a5985639-gp1suwpl_web_size_with_credit_line-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/a5985639-gp1suwpl_web_size_with_credit_line-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/a5985639-gp1suwpl_web_size_with_credit_line-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption>A big <em>In the early morning of March 9th, just days before the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) submitted its conclusions to Premier Legault, the sun rose on six banners displaying c<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/46568\/no-to-gnl-quebec-banners-blossom-across-the-province-in-rejection-of-the-project\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/46568\/no-to-gnl-quebec-banners-blossom-across-the-province-in-rejection-of-the-project\/\"><em>ommunities\u2019 opposition to <\/em>GNL Qu\u00e9bec<\/a><em>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>As a Greenpeace supporter, you \u2014 in coalition with other environmental organizations, community groups and First Nations \u2014 grew a movement that would eventually bring down the largest gas project ever proposed in Quebec. Designed as a three-in-one <strong>gas plant, marine export terminal, and pipeline<\/strong> project, the <em>GNL Qu\u00e9bec<\/em> megaproject would have threatened the survival of the endangered St. Lawrence beluga whale, emitted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/41055\/what-gnl-quebec-is-and-why-you-must-say-no-to-it\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/41055\/what-gnl-quebec-is-and-why-you-must-say-no-to-it\/\">as much pollution as 15 million cars<\/a> every year for 25 years, and further delayed the green energy transition.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>But no part of GNL Qu\u00e9bec will see the light of day. <\/strong>That\u2019s because this summer, Quebec Premier Fran\u00e7ois Legault <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/49307\/huge-victory-people-power-defeats-proposed-gnl-quebec-gas-plant\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/49307\/huge-victory-people-power-defeats-proposed-gnl-quebec-gas-plant\/\">gave in to public pressure<\/a> and rejected it.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>And in another pipeline victory this past June, developers officially abandoned Keystone XL<\/strong> \u2014 an $8-billion cross-border pipeline meant to funnel over 800,000 barrels of Canadian crude oil per day along 1,897 kilometres of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/news\/keystone-pipeline-does-as-experts-predicted-spills-383000-gallons-of-oil-in-north-dakota\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/news\/keystone-pipeline-does-as-experts-predicted-spills-383000-gallons-of-oil-in-north-dakota\/\">leak-prone pipelines<\/a>.<strong><br><br><\/strong>This win came after <strong>over a decade of Indigenous-led grassroots resistance<\/strong> by frontline communities in both Canada and the United States, with Greenpeace supporters like you playing a key supporting role.<\/p>\n\n<p>This is what people power looks like, and this is how we win.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Share on Twitter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=414434017032135\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Share on Facebook<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Winning a historic court case against Shell<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/b1be3264-gp0stu2iy_web_size_with_credit_line-1.jpg\" alt=\"Greenpeace activists climbed two Shell oil platforms in the North Sea and hung banners saying, \u2018Shell, clean up your mess!\u2019. \" class=\"wp-image-51639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/b1be3264-gp0stu2iy_web_size_with_credit_line-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/b1be3264-gp0stu2iy_web_size_with_credit_line-1-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/b1be3264-gp0stu2iy_web_size_with_credit_line-1-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/b1be3264-gp0stu2iy_web_size_with_credit_line-1-499x340.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption><em>In 2019, Greenpeace activists from the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark boarded two Shell platforms in the North Sea to protest against the company\u2019s plans to leave behind old oil structures still containing 11,000 tons of oil.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>This year, Greenpeace Netherlands joined thousands of individual co-plaintiffs, <em>Milieudefensie<\/em> (Friends of the Earth Netherlands), and several other groups in landing a landmark legal victory against Shell.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Dutch court\u2019s ruling? <strong>Shell is liable for damaging the climate<\/strong> and must <strong>reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% for 2030<\/strong>, effective immediately.<\/p>\n\n<p>It\u2019s the <strong>first time in history <\/strong>that<strong> <\/strong>a major fossil fuel company has been held accountable for its contribution to climate change and made to drastically cut its emissions to help keep the planet within a 1.5 \u00b0C warming range. Shell is one of the 10 worst climate-polluting companies in the world and, to meet the court\u2019s orders, will now have to <strong>radically reevaluate its entire business model<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>You can be sure this ruling won\u2019t be the last: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/nl\/klimaatverandering\/6409\/seeking-justice-the-rising-tide-of-court-cases-against-shell-investor-briefing-may-2018\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/nl\/klimaatverandering\/6409\/seeking-justice-the-rising-tide-of-court-cases-against-shell-investor-briefing-may-2018\/\">more doors are opening<\/a> for similar climate litigation outcomes around the world.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.gp%2F3DPEo0b&amp;text=Amazing!%20Here%20are%20five%20of%20the%20top%20environmental%20victories%20made%20possible%20by%20%40GreenpeaceCA%20supporters%20like%20me%20in%202021\">Share on Twitter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=414434017032135\">Share on Facebook<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Getting Canada to categorize single-use plastics as \u201ctoxic\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ed104483-gp0stsual_web_size_with_credit_line-1.jpg\" alt=\"Greenpeace activists hold a sign reading &quot;Recycling is NOT enough! BAN single-use PLASTICS!&quot; before delivering plastic pollution &quot;gift boxes&quot; to Canada's five top polluting corporations \u2013 Nestl\u00e9, Tim Hortons, PepsiCo., The Coca-Cola Company and McDonald\u2019s.\" class=\"wp-image-51644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ed104483-gp0stsual_web_size_with_credit_line-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ed104483-gp0stsual_web_size_with_credit_line-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ed104483-gp0stsual_web_size_with_credit_line-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ed104483-gp0stsual_web_size_with_credit_line-1-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption><em>For the 2018 holiday season, Greenpeace volunteers delivered a message (along with plastic pollution gift boxes!) to the offices of Canada&#8217;s five top polluting corporations \u2014 Nestl\u00e9, Tim Hortons, PepsiCo., The Coca-Cola Company and McDonald\u2019s.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>This past May, and after years of advocacy efforts by Greenpeacers like you and our allies at other organizations, <strong>Canada added <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/48275\/plastic-listed-as-toxic-under-cepa-a-bold-move-against-the-plastic-industrys-pressure\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/48275\/plastic-listed-as-toxic-under-cepa-a-bold-move-against-the-plastic-industrys-pressure\/\">plastic manufactured items to the toxic list under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act<\/a>, and proposed a ban of six single-use plastic items<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>Why is this significant? By officially recognizing how harmful these plastics are to the environment, the federal government can and must implement stronger plastics regulations in the future.<\/p>\n\n<p>And Big Plastic knows it. They\u2019re pushing back, but this win sends them a clear message: <strong>change is coming.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Next steps? Expanding the ban list to include a more comprehensive list of non-essential problematic plastics, stopping subsidies to the petrochemical and plastic sectors, and <strong>campaigning for investment in reuse and refill systems<\/strong> so we can accelerate our transition to a truly zero-waste economy instead.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\">Share on Twitter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=414434017032135\">Share on Facebook<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Taking down the world\u2019s first full-scale seabed mine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"710\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ea318878-whale-1024x710.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a whale breaching, and with the words &quot;WIN! Supreme Court rules against Taranaki seabed mining&quot; superimposed onto it.\" class=\"wp-image-51647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ea318878-whale-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ea318878-whale-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ea318878-whale-768x532.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ea318878-whale-490x340.jpg 490w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/ea318878-whale.jpg 1128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p>Together with local grassroots groups and Indigenous communities, the iwi and hap\u016b of Aotearoa (M\u0101ori tribes and subtribes), you helped protect the oceans \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/supreme-court-slams-door-on-seabed-mining-time-for-a-ban\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/supreme-court-slams-door-on-seabed-mining-time-for-a-ban\/\">stopping the first full-scale seabed mine in the world<\/a> from being developed off the coast of New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n<p>After defending the seabed and the interests of coastal communities before the New Zealand Supreme Court last year, <strong>Greenpeacers around the world celebrated the September ruling that effectively rendered the Trans Tasman Resources mining project dead in the water.<\/strong>[7]<\/p>\n\n<p>This project would have been <strong>the first full-scale seabed mine in the world<\/strong> \u2014 a dangerous precedent that would likely have encouraged industry to pursue similar mining projects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>This was also a big win for <strong>Indigenous rights,<\/strong> as a<strong> <\/strong>key part of the ruling was the acknowledgement that Tikanga (traditional customs and values), should have been taken into account as part of the application process.<br><br>Amazing work!<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\">Share on Twitter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=414434017032135\">Share on Facebook<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting Canada to invest $30 billion in climate action<\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/d6722514-gp0stu2zr_web_size_with_credit_line.jpg\" alt=\"Half a million people pooled into the streets of Montreal on September 27, 2019 to take part in the global climate student strike.\" class=\"wp-image-51649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/d6722514-gp0stu2zr_web_size_with_credit_line.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/d6722514-gp0stu2zr_web_size_with_credit_line-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/d6722514-gp0stu2zr_web_size_with_credit_line-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/12\/d6722514-gp0stu2zr_web_size_with_credit_line-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption>On the day of the global climate student strike in 2019, half a million people marched in Montreal. Millions more people around the world took to the streets to demand bold climate action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p><strong>The last big economic crisis more than a decade ago taught us that governments resist changing \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d unless pushed to do so by the public. <\/strong>But before the pandemic, business as usual was a crisis \u2014 as much for people as for the planet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>As a Greenpeace supporter, you were part of a broad mobilization effort that led to $30 billion in new funding for the climate in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/47431\/2021-federal-budget-analysis-how-just-and-green-will-the-covid-recovery-be\/\">2021 Spring Budget<\/a>.<\/strong><br>Though not perfect, this new budget was an important first step in seizing the once-in-a-generation opportunity to build back better. To meet today\u2019s crises head-on, Canada needs to rebuild our energy sector around renewables with support for workers, continue investing in stronger social safety nets, and address the social injustices that frontline communities face.<strong> Supporters like you made this important advocacy possible and, while our work is far from over, we\u2019re starting to see progress.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>So there you have it: five crucial environmental victories that Greenpeace supporters helped bring about this year.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>As we chart out our plans for 2022, we hope that these victories inspire you to continue taking action with us.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Together, we can build a more green, peaceful and just world.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.gp%2F3DPEo0b&amp;text=Amazing!%20Here%20are%20five%20of%20the%20top%20environmental%20victories%20made%20possible%20by%20%40GreenpeaceCA%20supporters%20like%20me%20in%202021\"><strong>Celebrate these victories with us by sharing the video on Twitter<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-donate\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=414434017032135\"><strong>Celebrate these victories with us by sharing the video on Facebook<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are some of our favourite environmental victories of 2021 that Greenpeace supporters helped achieve both here in Canada and around the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":51647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"not set","p4_local_project":"not set","p4_basket_name":"not set","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[35,36],"p4-page-type":[16],"class_list":["post-51632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate","tag-supportgreenpeace","tag-victory","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51632"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70962,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51632\/revisions\/70962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51632"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=51632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}