An oil giant’s $300 million case against Greenpeace is ending, with chilling impacts on free speech

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🗞️ Driving the news: A $300 million lawsuit filed by Energy Transfer Partners against Greenpeace is nearing a verdict in North Dakota
• The company alleges Greenpeace orchestrated protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, causing financial losses and property damage
• Greenpeace (See sustainability performance) argues the lawsuit is an attempt to silence environmental activism and free speech

🔭 The context: The case stems from protests in 2016, led by Indigenous groups opposing the pipeline’s threat to water sources and sacred lands
• Energy Transfer first sued Greenpeace in 2017 under anti-racketeering laws, but the case was dismissed before being refiled in state court
• Legal experts say the case resembles a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), designed to intimidate critics through costly litigation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The lawsuit’s outcome could set a precedent affecting climate activism and public dissent against fossil fuel projects
• If successful, it may discourage organisations and individuals from protesting against environmental harms
• Critics warn that such legal tactics undermine accountability for companies contributing to climate change

⏭️ What's next: A jury decision is pending, with potential repercussions for Greenpeace’s financial viability and broader environmental movements
• Greenpeace International has launched a counter-lawsuit in the Netherlands under EU anti-SLAPP laws
• If Energy Transfer wins, it may embolden more lawsuits against environmental activists in the US

💬 One quote: "Make an example of one person, especially somebody who’s big, and you’ll scare everybody else." – James Wheaton, First Amendment Project

📈 One stat: The Dakota Access Pipeline transports approximately 750,000 barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota to Illinois

See here detailed sustainability performance of companies like Energy Transfer Partners, Chevron, Shell and Greenpeace 

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