2018 Annual Report

Thanks to our members’ generous support Greenpeace was able to protect our Earth sanctuary in many vital ways throughout 2018. The year was packed with hard-fought battles—and victories!—for our environment, our communities, and our rights.

In huge wins for free speech and advocacy, courts sided with us, dismissing baseless claims in lawsuits filed against Greenpeace and others by corporations attempting to silence dissent. And we also won in our lawsuit to stop huge logging projects in Alaska’s old-growth forests.

People power protected water and stopped pipelines, defended the Amazon Reef, and made the fourth largest Exclusive Economic Zone on the planet off limits for new fossil fuel exploitation. Taking collective action together we convinced more corporations to go to 100% renewable energy, phase out single-use plastics trashing the planet, and eliminate rainforest destroyers from the palm oil supply chain.

The credit lies with the thousands of people who made it happen … climate champions, forest defenders, ocean lovers, activists, resisters, rainbow warriors, and passionate Greenpeace volunteers and members.

Thank you for doing your part in solidarity with Greenpeace to protect our Earth sanctuary.

After a decade-long legal battle to protect Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, Greenpeace prevailed when a federal court invalidated four U.S. Forest Service logging projects. Together the four projects would have required building 14 miles of logging roads to clear-cut 33 million board feet of timber from 1,700 acres of old-growth forest.

At 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is the Earth’s largest remaining temperate rainforest. The four timber sales would have destroyed habitat vital to deer, Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago wolf, and subsistence hunters. The lawsuit focused on all three, and the court’s ruling protects many kinds of wildlife in those areas and diverse forest uses. It’s also a victory for the climate, as the Tongass is world-renowned for storing carbon in its soil, trees, and vegetation.

Following an intensive global campaign by Greenpeace, Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, published a detailed action plan to map and monitor all of its suppliers. If implemented, this would put the palm oil giant that supplies 40% of the world’s palm oil one step closer to finally eliminating deforestation from its supply chain.

Wilmar’s new action plan commits the palm oil trader to map its suppliers’ entire landbank by the end of 2019, including concessions from which it does not yet source, and to use high-resolution satellite monitoring to check for deforestation. Companies caught clearing rainforest are to be immediately suspended.

Wilmar’s move puts pressure on the rest of the industry, and other traders and brands must now follow with credible plans to map and monitor all of their suppliers to stop the destruction of rainforests.

After a year of Greenpeace campaigning and global protests, Samsung Electronics committed to 100% renewable energy in the United States, Europe, and China by 2020. As the world’s largest smartphone and computer chip manufacturer, Samsung’s commitment represents a big step forward in reducing the impact that our technology is having on the planet.

“Do Bigger Things, Samsung” Action in New York City © Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace

If the company follows through with meaningful actions, Samsung will join Apple, Facebook, Google, and other IT business leaders who recognize the sense of urgency around climate change and are working to move their operations off of fossil fuels as fast as possible. Greenpeace and the thousands who took action with us will be watching Samsung carefully to ensure it follows through on its commitments.

A federal court dismissed the majority of claims, including all under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), in the case brought by Resolute Forest Products against Greenpeace defendants and others. Resolute’s intent is to bully advocacy organizations and forest defenders with baseless legal claims. The judge’s decision to throw out the racketeering claims, designed to prosecute mobsters, is a positive development and a win for free speech and advocacy.

All claims against Greenpeace defendants and others in the baseless $900 million lawsuit filed by Energy Transfer (the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline) were rejected by a federal court judge, sending a clear message to companies trying to muzzle civil society that corporate overreach will not be tolerated. It was a huge victory not just for Greenpeace but for anyone and everyone who has ever stood up against powerful corporate interests. After the federal court’s dismissal, Energy Transfer repackaged its meritless claims in a North Dakota state court lawsuit against the Greenpeace defendants and others. The fight for free speech and advocacy continues, but we are confident that the state court will dismiss all claims and send a final message to corporations like Energy Transfer that these abusive legal tactics will not be tolerated.

Protect Water, Stop Pipelines

The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise began the ship tour by documenting what is at stake in the Pacific Northwest, from the Trans Mountain pipeline to the tar sands tanker superhighway that would threaten the extinction of the Southern Resident Orca Whale.

Break Free From Plastic

In San Diego and Long Beach Greenpeace drew attention to the epidemic of plastic pollution with beach cleanups and brand audits, and we conducted microplastics surveys. The Arctic Sunrise also visited the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to show what “away” looks like with throwaway plastics. In Honolulu Greenpeace worked with local groups to put together a Pau Hana (a Hawai‘ian term meaning “work is done”) informal event to discuss plastics bans with legislators. The Hawai‘i Senate presented Greenpeace with a plaque commending us and the crew of the Arctic Sunrise for raising awareness and spurring solutions to the devastation of plastic pollution.

Plastic Clean Up on Kaho‘olawe © Tim Aubry / Greenpeace

Greenpeace’s annual Backstage gala at our West Coast Action Center in Oakland, California provided our guests with an up close and personal behind-the-scenes experience, at the place where our iconic actions to save the planet begin. The evening included demonstrations of the techniques and equipment that are signature to our work, and the chance to learn more about the unique aspects of Greenpeace that make us so effective on a global scale. Rousing guest speakers inspired the crowd, and attendees had the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind silent auction items like a ride in the Greenpeace airship or hot air balloon, or an excursion in one of our rigid inflatable boats. It was a wonderful evening with a diverse group of people who share our strong commitment to a green and peaceful future.

Gala Sponsors:

Ship Captain $10,000
Anonymous Friend of Greenpeace
Wallace Global Fund
Mark Headley and Christina Pehl

RIB Driver $6,000
Adelaide Gomer
Nia Community Fund

Airship Pilot $3,000 – 5,000
The 11th Hour Project
Darlene Abt
Andre Carothers

Ocean Explorer $2,000
Larry Lundberg
Brian Anderson and Molli Anderson
Nick Morgan and Sloane Morgan
Mark Cunningham and Judy Klein
Greenpeace USA Inc and Greenpeace USA Fund Boards
International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Marc Levin

“I have been following Greenpeace since I was in high school. I was inspired by the volunteers on the Rainbow Warrior who seemed so brave, committed, and fearless. I continue to be inspired by the substantial successes of Greenpeace and am proud to be a major supporter of the organization.”

– Marc Levin

A Greenpeace member for nearly 20 years, Marc has graciously included a gift to Greenpeace Fund in his will, ensuring his values live on forever.

If you would like to know more about how you can remember Greenpeace in your estate plans, please contact Corrine Barr at 1-800-328-0678 or [email protected].