Greenpeace ordered to pay Dakota Access Pipeline operator $667 million over protest

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🗞️ Driving the news: A North Dakota jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer, the operator of the Dakota Access Pipeline, for defamation
• The lawsuit accused Greenpeace of inciting protests and spreading false claims that harmed the company’s reputation and financing
• Greenpeace (See sustainability performance) has vowed to appeal, warning that the ruling could suppress environmental activism

🔭 The context: The case stems from the 2016 protests against the pipeline, led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, over concerns about water contamination and sacred land desecration
• Energy Transfer initially sued Greenpeace in federal court in 2017, but after dismissal, refiled in state court in 2019
• The jury’s decision follows arguments that Greenpeace funded and trained protesters, though the organisation maintains it played only a minor role

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Environmental groups see the ruling as a dangerous precedent that could deter activism against fossil fuel projects
The decision may embolden corporations to use strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to silence critics
Greenpeace warns that this could mark the end of its U.S. affiliate, impacting climate advocacy efforts.

⏭️ What's next: Greenpeace plans to appeal, while Energy Transfer celebrates the ruling as a victory for businesses affected by disruptive protests
• Greenpeace International is pursuing legal action in Europe under anti-SLAPP laws to counter Energy Transfer’s lawsuit
• The verdict could lead activists to rethink direct actions against fossil fuel infrastructure due to legal risks

💬 One quote: "We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment, and lawsuits like this aimed at destroying our rights to peaceful protest and free speech." — Deepa Padmanabha, Senior Legal Counsel for Greenpeace USA

📈 One stat: Greenpeace USA had $40 million in revenue and 191 employees in 2023, significantly less than the $667 million in damages awarded

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

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