Court Orders Greenpeace to Pay $660 Million for Defamation

A North Dakota jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay over $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, after finding the environmental group liable for defamation and other claims related to protests against the pipeline. The lawsuit, which claimed Greenpeace incited criminal behavior and caused significant financial harm, was viewed by many as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), aimed at silencing environmental advocacy. Greenpeace has vowed to appeal the verdict, expressing concerns that the ruling could threaten its operations and have a chilling effect on free speech and activism. The protests, which drew international attention and support from various Indigenous groups, highlighted environmental and cultural concerns about the pipeline’s impact. Energy Transfer characterized the verdict as a victory for law-abiding citizens and a necessary response to the disruptions caused during the protests. The case underscores the ongoing tensions between environmental advocacy and corporate interests in the context of climate change activism.