Greenpeace Notes For UPSC: Objectives, Criticisms, Global Conference & More!

Greenpeace International, a Non-Profit Organization (NGO) was established in 1971 when a small number of activists planned to sail close to the island of Amchitka, off the coast of Alaska, to witness the nuclear tests carried out by the United States. The most serious challenges to the environment and biodiversity of the Earth are addressed by Greenpeace. It is a campaigning, independent group that uses non-violent, creative confrontations to highlight environmental issues on a global scale. In order to uphold its integrity, it relies on donations from individual supporters and declines to take funding from companies or the government.

In this article, let us look at what is Greenpeace International, its history, objectives, functions, accomplishments, and criticisms, Greenpeace India, the Greenpeace movement in India, and the controversies with the Indian government for the UPSC IAS Examination since the topic is important from the context of the Environment section which is a part of UPSC mains GS 3 paper.

Also, check out Environment Notes for UPSC Exams now!

Latest Updates on Greenpeace

• Greenpeace India will distribute 500 bicycles to low-wage female labourers in Bengaluru and Delhi as part of its “Power The Pedal” initiative. The NGO has spent the entire year of 2021 working with women labourers in Delhi and Bengaluru who assisted it in testing and designing the bicycles to fit their needs. Its ultimate goal is to develop a community of 5,000 women riders.
• According to a report by Greenpeace India, the average pollution levels in ten major cities in south India between November 20, 2020, and November 20, 2021, were significantly above the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) limits.
  • This study by the international environmental organization is viewed as a critically needed reminder that air pollution is a public health concern that is not limited to cities in only north India.
  • Air pollution data from 10 cities, namely Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Mangalore, Puducherry, Coimbatore, and Mysore were picked and studied. Despite lockdowns brought on by the epidemic and the ensuing decline in economic activity, it was discovered that the yearly average levels of PM2.5 and PM10 (airborne particles with diameters of 10 micrometres or smaller) were much above the WHO’s revised limits.

What is Greenpeace?

Greenpeace, a global independent campaigning network, operates through its coordinating body, Greenpeace International, and 26 independent national/regional organizations across over 55 nations. Founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving and Dorothy Stowe, Greenpeace's mission is to ensure the Earth's ability to support diverse life. It employs direct action, advocacy, research, and ecotage to achieve its goals. Funding comes solely from three million individual donors and foundations, rejecting support from governments, businesses, or political parties. A founding member of the INGO Accountability Charter, Greenpeace also holds a general consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. Renowned worldwide, Greenpeace has made significant impacts on both public and private sectors, raising awareness of environmental issues globally.

Greenpeace at a Glance

A global network of autonomous national and regional Greenpeace organizations (NROs), with Greenpeace International serving as the coordinating body, makes up Greenpeace. Check out the Key facts about Greenpeace in the table below:

Greenpeace Historical Background

• The groundwork for Greenpeace was laid in the late 1960s when the United States government planned to test nuclear bombs on the tectonically unstable island of Amchitka, close to Alaska. The test proceeded as scheduled, despite the protests of the villagers.
• Although there was no earthquake or tsunami after the test, the opposition increased when the U.S. said it would detonate a bomb that was five times as strong as the previous one.
• Environmental activist Irving Stowe planned a fundraiser concert that took place on October 16, 1970, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver after realizing that a more novel approach was required.
• The performance raised money for the inaugural Greenpeace campaign. The earnings from the event were used to buy a ship that was given the protest name Greenpeace in honour of activist Bill Darnell, who invented the term.
• On September 15, 1971, as the ship approached Amchitka, it ran into the U.S. Coast Guard ship ‘Confidence’, forcing the activists to return. The crew opted to return to Canada as a result of this and the worsening weather, only to learn that the news of their expedition and the alleged backing from the crew of the Confidence had resulted in public support for their protest.
• Up until the United States exploded the bomb, Greenpeace attempted to cruise to the test location with other ships. After the nuclear test, the United States opted against carrying out its planned tests at Amchitka.
• The Don’t Make a Wave Committee was established in 1970, states the Greenpeace website.
• The “Don’t Make a Wave Committee” was formally renamed the “Greenpeace Foundation” in 1972, according to Rex Weyler and Patrick Moore, an early member who has since distanced himself from Greenpeace.

Objectives of Greenpeace

The campaigning organization Greenpeace identifies global environmental issues and develops solutions for a green and peaceful future through non-violent, creative confrontation. It concentrates its outreach efforts on global problems such as global warming, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering, and anti-nuclear activities.

It aims to ensure that the earth can support life in all of its forms, implying that its goal is to:

• Prevent the planet from getting heated up beyond 1.5° to minimize the impacts of a climate crisis.
• Conserve all forms of biodiversity.
• Reduce the level of hyperconsumption and develop a budget-conscious lifestyle.
• Push renewable energy as a world-powering alternative.
• Promote world peace, disarmament, and nonviolence.

Global Greenpeace 2021 Vision

• In 2021, Greenpeace International (GPI) promised to assist the worldwide Greenpeace network.
• GPI continues to be strict with strategy, liberal with implementation, and even more strict with evaluation. To ensure the greatest impact, it links and works with global Greenpeace.
• By staying connected to the outside world, looking for opportunities, and assisting the autonomous National and Regional Greenpeace Organizations (NRGOs) to reap their benefits of them, the organization is far more responsive than it is right now.
• It has a clearer, highly defined program emphasis and invests in programs that are gaining traction. It supports NROs in making relationships across borders so that they can be more influential, take chances, and innovate.
• The organization’s main goal is to support priority NROs that plan and carry out high-impact programs.

The Function of Greenpeace International

GPI’s function within the global Greenpeace network involves ensuring that the ways in which GPI and NROs collaborate are appropriate for the task in question. GPI performs four crucial roles in the worldwide Greenpeace network:

• Direct and coordinate the Greenpeace network globally to deliver the Framework: The role of GPI is to support and foster network-wide agreement on the network’s strategic direction and to pinpoint important conflicts and opportunities for maximum impact in defending ecological boundaries, shifting attitudes, and altering systems. In order to have the biggest impact, GPI must evaluate if it is strong in the right areas.
• Improve the performance, cohesiveness, and alignment of the global network through analysis, tracking, and evaluation: GPI must have a thorough awareness of how the network of the various National and Regional Organizations (NROs) is functioning as a whole in order to be “tight on strategy.” To assess how well Greenpeace’s global program is being carried out, it strives to have reliable statistics, “business” information, and analytics. In order to provide a reality check on specific strengths, resources, and talents and compare those to where they are needed, Greenpeace exchanges and compiles that knowledge and analysis inside the network.
• Assisting Priority Greenpeace National and Regional Organizations (NROs), as well as other NROs: In order for the NROs and systems to successfully implement the global program, both separately and collectively, GPI’s mission is to offer global coordination and effective support.
• Make sure the worldwide network is really effective: Without its people, the Greenpeace network cannot accomplish its goals; thus, their support and advancement are essential.

Greenpeace International’s Priorities 2021

• For the current situation and a future full of disruptions, Greenpeace International (GPI) is more relevant. To guarantee that the organization has the strategic and operational excellence required in this time of climate emergency, it is putting a few of its learnings into practice and is implementing new working practices.
• In order for the independent National and Regional Organizations (NROs) to make the considerable influence required in this climate emergency, the organization is continuing to implement the Global Programme 2020-22. The main goal is to support priority NROs as they plan and carry out high-impact programs.
• The organization focuses on developing the Greenpeace network on a global scale while fostering resilience and cohesion. Priority NROs are being developed in order to advance and expand their capacity to deliver highly effective campaigns while supporting the global network.
• It collaborates with NROs to develop maritime resources that are more adaptable, flexible, and green. In order to ensure that future investments in its fleet will have a positive impact on its programs, it is collaborating with NGOs to increase the use of its special maritime resources in support of its campaigns around the world.
• GPI is intensifying its commitment to using the best available technologies and ensuring that Greenpeace remains at the forefront. While attaining desired levels of innovation, it is enhancing the network of Greenpeace’s delivery of global technological systems and solutions in a cohesive and integrated manner.
• Through the adoption of efficiencies and cooperative partnerships with other departments, the GPI Finance Department continues to play a crucial role within GPI and offers the direction required to stay influential.
• Through constant innovation, the adoption of efficiencies, and cooperative partnerships with other departments, the GPI People and Culture (P&C) Department is seen as an even stronger partner in providing and adapting to the requirements of GPI.
• In order to fulfil Equity, Diversity, Safety, and Justice (EDSJ) commitments and make sure the Greenpeace network is as broad and effective as is necessary, GPI is playing a crucial role. It is fostering a Greenpeace that is more secure, inclusive, and diversified.

Greenpeace Movement in India

• In 2001, Greenpeace India was established.
• Greenpeace gained momentum to register in India by May 2001 owing to early initiatives to stop western firms from using India as a dump for toxic waste (1995), the iconic hot air balloon protest outside the Taj Mahal (1998), and the battle against toxic ship breaking in Gujarat.
• By 2006, Greenpeace India had made a name for itself as a powerful environmental watchdog.
• The group successfully established its first solar micro-grid, providing energy independence to the Bihar village of Dharnai in 2014.

What Issues Does Greenpeace Oppose?

Greenpeace stands up for the following issues:

• Safeguarding the oceans and ancient forest areas.
• Issues concerning biodiversity.
• Eliminating the use of fossil fuels and fostering renewable energy in order to stop climate change.
• Misuse of the earth’s ocean, land, air, and freshwater.
• Removing harmful chemicals.
• Restricting the release of genetically modified organisms into nature.
• To end the nuclear hazards and nuclear contamination and
• To enable safe and sustainable trade.

What has Greenpeace Accomplished in terms of Environmental Protection?

Greenpeace, which was founded in 1971, is currently active in dozens of nations and campaigns on a broad range of topics which are improving the planet. Here are some of the triumphs Greenpeace has won over 50 years of its existence, from protecting whales to banning polluting cars.

Accomplishments of Greenpeace
Year	Accomplishments
1972	The US gives up nuclear testing grounds in Alaska’s Amchitka Island.
1982	With the triumph of the “Save the Whales” movement, commercial whaling was prohibited worldwide.
1991	Greenpeace established a base in Antarctica and waged a fight against oil exploration and mining there. The Antarctic Treaty then guaranteed protection against mining for the continent.
1996	A global restriction on nuclear weapons testing was finally enacted following years of struggle by Greenpeace and other organizations.
1998	As an outcome of Greenpeace’s anti-dumping campaign, the historic OSPAR Convention forbade the disposal of toxic waste with the removal of oil rigs and other industrial machinery from the sea in the North East Atlantic.
2006	The beautiful Great Bear Rainforest in Canada has been protected for over two million hectares after a ten-year battle by Greenpeace and First Nations organizations.
2020	The Danish Parliament declared that it would stop all current oil production by 2050 and prohibit any new oil drilling in the Danish portion of the North Sea.

Criticism Of Greenpeace

Several parties, including national governments, corporations, former Greenpeace members, scientists, political organizations, and other environmentalists, have condemned the policies and goals of the non-governmental organization Greenpeace throughout its existence. The organization’s strategies, like direct action, have also generated debate and legal challenges.

Criticisms on a Global Scale

• Internal party structure
• Shell oil storage buoy
• Campaign for Greener Electronics
• Indigenous complaints in Greenland
• Neo-Luddism
• Nuclear fusion
• Opposition to golden rice
• Criticism for biotechnology
• inappropriate use of funds
• Damage to Nazca Lines

Controversies with the Indian Government

• The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused Greenpeace of hindering development efforts, but the organization has refuted this claim.
• Greenpeace India has organized rallies against thermal, nuclear, coal, and aluminium mining in India.
• In particular, in Bihar, Greenpeace has been engaged in promoting solar energy equipment made by the US-based Zemlin Surface Optical Corporation.
• Greenpeace India has acknowledged leading local protests against coal mining and attending conferences where foreign financing is sought for conducting these protests.
• According to a report by the Indian Intelligence Bureau, Greenpeace is a threat to the economic security of India.
• The Indian government accused Greenpeace of various financial breaches of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in April 2015. Allegations of unauthorized account opening, failure to disclose accounts to the income tax authorities, and improper management of foreign donations’ financial details led to the Indian government blocking all its bank accounts. Since FCRA prohibits NGOs from using more than 50% of foreign donations for administrative costs, spending more than 60% of funds on managerial costs and tax evasion are also violations.
• On April 28, 2015, the Indian Government froze Greenpeace India’s bank accounts and suspended its license for failing to disclose information about foreign donations as required by FCRA.
• To enable the organizations’ regular operations, the Indian High Court granted interim relief in May 2015 to open two of their domestic accounts; nonetheless, the money that had been frozen could not be used while cases were still pending.

Concluding Remarks

Since its founding in 1971, Greenpeace has had a significant influence on environmental issues all around the world. There have been several accomplishments. Governments alone could not have made the impact Greenpeace International and other organizations have had globally. Governments alone cannot act and bring about change, so non-profit organizations like Greenpeace International are necessary. Government spending on fossil fuels should be reduced in favour of safer energy sources like wind and solar. Governments and firms must be motivated by a real concern for the future of our planet rather than by political and financial considerations.

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