{"id":80182,"date":"2025-12-19T10:36:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T09:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=80182"},"modified":"2026-02-16T14:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T13:21:11","slug":"top-5-questions-we-answered-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/80182\/top-5-questions-we-answered-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 questions we answered in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From \u201cWhy are you making statements on Gaza?\u201d to \u201cWhy are you campaigning to tax the super-rich and against private jets\u201d to questions about Greenpeace\u2019s stance on meat and dairy consumption and \u201coverpopulation\u201d and the persistent question of what individual actions and habits can help combat climate change and biodiversity collapse. These are the top 5 questions Greenpeace frequently received in social media comments in 2025 \u2014 and their answers. 
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\"Gaza:
Greenpeace Spain and “Unmute Gaza” display an illustration made by the American visual artist Shepard Fairey \u201cObey\u201d in the Reina Sof\u00eda museum in Madrid to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
\u00a9 Mario Gomez \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

1. Greenpeace, why are you commenting on wars\/conflicts like Gaza? Stay in your lane!<\/h2>\n\n

We stand against war crimes, \u2018manmade\u2019 famine, ethnic cleansing, genocide and ecocide \u2014 defending human rights and protecting the conditions for all life go hand in hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Founded 50 years ago to stop the testing of nuclear weapons<\/a>, the name \u201cGreenpeace\u201d represented the intersection between peace and ecology movements, and the vision of a green, just and joyful future for all life on Earth.<\/p>\n\n

It is part of our mission<\/a> to \u201cpromote peace, global disarmament and non-violence.” We understand that we are a part of, not apart from, nature. What we do to nature we do to ourselves and what we do to each other we do to nature. We pursue peace to protect people and our shared home. <\/p>\n\n

A peaceful world<\/a> is one built on cooperation, community and connectivity, where we can all enjoy our right to a safe and healthy environment and live life free from violence and fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace has always, and will remain, an organisation that campaigns for peace.<\/p>\n\n

We know the environmental impact of war is catastrophic<\/a>, with the collapse of infrastructure, widespread, long-term degradation of ecosystems and profound risks to human health. A toll that persists for generations after the conflict ends, leaving a legacy of contaminated landscapes and exposed communities.<\/p>\n\n

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have set fuel depots ablaze and destroyed sanitation infrastructure \u2013 dumping raw sewage into the sea and polluting local water sources. Bombing and explosions have flattened farmland and left rubble, toxic dust and hazardous debris<\/a> across entire neighbourhoods. <\/p>\n\n

A catastrophe for human health and the environment, carbon emissions<\/a> from the first 15 months of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza exceed the planet-heating emissions of more than 100 individual countries, exacerbating the global climate emergency on top of the huge civilian death toll.<\/p>\n\n

\"Peace
Thousands of people form a huge peace sign to protest against the invasion of Ukraine and to express their compassion for the innocent victims of the war in Budapest\u2019s Heroes\u2019 Square. The demonstration has been organised by Greenpeace Hungary.
\u00a9 Bence Jardany \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Power struggles over energy resources have been a conspicuous factor in fossil fuelled wars<\/a> from Iraq<\/a> to Sudan and Ukraine<\/a>. Greenpeace will continue to speak out on the cost of such conflicts. We call for urgent action to protect human rights, people’s health, the environment, and the climate. And to invest in safe, secure renewable energy systems for all.<\/p>\n\n

2. Why are you campaigning for taxing the super-rich and banning private jets?<\/h2>\n\n

We believe in a world where everyone is safe, secure and free to thrive on a green, liveable planet. A world where every family can put food on the table and look ahead to a hopeful future. But we live in a world where a minority \u2013 the richest 1% \u2013 are responsible for more emissions than 66% of the world\u2019s population<\/a>, polluting and plundering the planet for their own gain. According to Oxfam, these wealthiest 1% own more wealth than 95% of the world\u2019s population<\/a> but reportedly contribute just 0.3% in taxes<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Instead of hoarding wealth, trashing the planet and destroying nature, if the super-rich paid their fair share in taxes, there would be enough money for a green and fair world for all.<\/p>\n\n

\"Jeff
Activists from the UK action group Everyone hates Elon and Greenpeace Italy unfolded a giant 20x20m banner on Piazza San Marco, as Jeff Bezos is due to celebrate his reportedly multi-million dollar wedding in the lagoon city.
\u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Michele Lapini<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The money for health, education, climate action, and nature protection is there, it\u2019s just in the wrong hands. Which is why we urge governments to <\/strong>tax the super-rich<\/strong><\/a> and support fair global tax rules to protect the future of people and the planet and reduce inequalities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTax the super-rich\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Together, let’s urge governments to tax the super-rich and fund a green and fair future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t \n Add your name\n <\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\n

Why ban private jets?<\/strong> They are the epitome of said inequalities<\/a>. They are used by a tiny ultra-wealthy minority, while the environmental costs affect the entire planet, especially the most vulnerable communities. <\/p>\n\n

Private jets are the most polluting form of transport. They have a disproportionate carbon footprint. A private jet flight causes about 10 times more CO2<\/sub> emissions per person than a regular commercial flight and 50 times more than a train<\/a>. The excessive, non-essential emissions contribute to the accelerating climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n

\"Action
Greenpeace International activists from across Europe symbolically \u201cconfiscated\u201d private planes at the Engadin airport in Samedan, Switzerland, which is used by attendees of the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF).
\u00a9 Daniel M\u00fcller \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Private jets are wasteful and unsustainable. They are inherently inefficient, typically carrying a small number of passengers while consuming vast amounts of fuel. Flying short distances, which many private flights do, is particularly fuel-inefficient. Banning private jets would be a powerful demonstration of commitment to tackling the climate crisis and sends a clear message that “luxury emissions” are no longer acceptable.<\/p>\n\n

Only 1% of people are responsible for half of global aviation emissions<\/a>, the vast majority of people (80%) have actually never flown<\/a>. The aviation industry invests in greenwashing and false solutions<\/a> to appear as a beacon of climate protection but the truth is flying remains the most climate-damaging means of transportation<\/a> per passenger and per kilometre. While air travel benefits from unfair tax privileges<\/a>, train travel is penalised and this needs to change.  <\/p>\n\n

This is an issue of social and climate justice, as the polluting lifestyle of the super-rich and the footprint of their destructive investments<\/a> contrasts starkly with the reality of billions who have minimal carbon footprints but face severe climate impacts. <\/p>\n\n

3. Why are you not saying anything on \u2018overpopulation\u2019?<\/h2>\n\n

\u2018Overpopulation\u2019 is a distracting myth that takes the focus away from the real, solvable problem: Overconsumption. <\/p>\n\n

Some people suggest that the best (or only) way to reduce the damage humans do to the environment is to reduce the human population.<\/a> But the evidence shows that wasteful overconsumption \u2013 driven mostly by the richest people and societies \u2013 causes far more damage. From a moral and practical perspective, it\u2019s also a much easier problem to solve. <\/p>\n\n

Many of the people who raise concerns about population are well-intentioned. But the idea that \u2018overpopulation\u2019 is causing climate change is inaccurate, and unfairly places blame on poorer societies in the Global South. These societies have faster-growing populations, but much lower consumption. This argument also diverts attention from the much greater responsibility of richer societies in the Global North to reduce their emissions.<\/p>\n\n

\"Fast
A protest at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The textiles for the clothing mountain come from the Kantamanto Market in Accra, where a huge amount of fast fashion waste from the West is sent every year.
\u00a9 Paul Lovis Wagner \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Because most people in the Global South are people of colour, there is a racial justice dimension to the population control argument. Regardless of the intention, it can reinforce racist attitudes and feed long-standing racial inequality and injustice. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cPopulation control\u201d is not a solution to the climate and nature crisis<\/a>. Campaigning for \u201cpopulation control\u201d, while doing little to propose reductions in consumption in the richest countries and address the extreme inequality crisis, would be unfair and ineffective. Instead, <\/strong>Greenpeace campaigns<\/strong><\/a> to stop the overconsumption of plastic, fossil fuels, and industrial meat, and we fight for a fair and fossil free global economy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

4. What are the most impactful things I can do to combat climate change and biodiversity collapse?<\/h2>\n\n

You can’t make every change, and that’s okay. Focus on what you can do while remembering that governments must rein in polluting corporations for real change. The most impactful actions include:<\/p>\n\n