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TOP 2024 VICTORIES FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET TO INSPIRE NEXT YEAR’S
ACTIVISM  
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Caroline Wagner, Francesca Cresta, Tan Lee Kuen
December 19, 2024
Greenpeace
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_ Across the globe, people took bold steps to care for the planet;
2024 showed us the strength of coming together with purpose and
passion. _

Members of Senior Women for Climate Protection react in Strasbourg,
France on April 9, 2024 after the European Court of Human Rights ruled
the Swiss government has not done enough to protect people from the
climate crisis., Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images

 

Dear changemakers, thank you for all that you’ve done this year.

Reflecting on 2024, we endured yet another year filled with climate
catastrophes, political unrest, and international inequality. But even
through these challenging times we can find hope in our collective
actions and victories, no matter how big or small. Together, we can
pave the way forward towards a better future.

Dear Earth, thank you for continuing to show up every day for us.

Across the globe, people took bold steps to care for the planet. 2024
showed us the strength of coming together with purpose and passion.
These efforts may not solve every challenge overnight, but they are
the building blocks of creating lasting change.

Dear Earth citizens, we invite you to take moments to appreciate
living on this planet.

The journey that we are on is a long one, so friends, take care of
yourself as we heal the world together. What lies ahead may not be
easy, but as we continue to show up, make our voices heard, and hold
polluters accountable we must not forget to take care of ourselves,
our peers and our communities.

Dear all, we hope that you’ll join us on this journey towards a
better future, taking care of our planet, ourselves, and each other.

With courage as our compass and optimism as our fuel, here are some of
the top victories of 2024 for people and the planet to inspire us to
keep taking action.

United Kingdom: Shell Backs Down in Lawsuit Against Greenpeace
In February 2023, Shell launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit
against Greenpeace U.K. and Greenpeace International over a peaceful
protest. But with our supporters behind us, we showed Shell their
bullying tactics won’t intimidate us—and now they’ve backed down
and agreed to settle out of court
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People power works—this campaign was fought with the support of
thousands of ordinary people against one of the richest companies in
the world.

This legal battle might be over, but Big Oil’s dirty tricks aren’t
going away. With Greenpeace facing further lawsuits around the world,
we won’t stop campaigning until the fossil fuel industry stops
drilling and starts paying for the damage it is causing to people and
the planet.

Norway: Arctic Deep-sea Mining Plans Stopped
Huge win for the ocean as Arctic deep-sea mining plans are stopped in
Norway [[link removed]]! After more
than a year of decisive campaign work and massive pressure from
activists, scientists, and the international community, the Norwegian
government has agreed to stop the first licensing round for deep-sea
mining in Arctic waters
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for at least the rest of their term in office, until the next
election.

This is a major and important environmental victory which shows that
mobilization and people power works.

Indonesia: Measures to Regulate Labor Standards for Fishing Vessels
Adopted
After years of discussions, rejections, objections, and negotiations
involving governments, civil society organizations including
Greenpeace Indonesia, and unions representing migrant fishers, the
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) finally
adopted the Conservation and Management Measures (CMM) for Crew Labor
Standards
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on December 3, 2024.

The WCPFC oversees fish population management, promotes sustainable
fishing practices, and implements conservation measures. This decision
underscores their commitment to ensure the well-being of crew in an
industry that suffers from serious labour abuses
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Oceans: Deep-Sea Miners’ Efforts to Limit the Right to Protest at
Sea Rejected
Over the last year, The Metals Company and its enablers have
repeatedly tried to silence the global wave of resistance. After
failing to get an injunction that stopped the action at sea, and
unsuccessfully lobbying governments to limit protests around deep-sea
mining vessels at the International Seabed Authority in March, the
company pursued an appeal at the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to try and
secure immunity against future Greenpeace protests at sea. But thanks
to the incredible work of Greenpeace International’s legal unit, on
November 12, 2024, the court ruled once more in our favor, reaffirming
our right to peaceful protest at sea
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Brazil: Sawré Muybu Territory Officially Demarcated
On September 25, 2024, the Sawré Muybu territory in the Tapajós
River Basin in the heart of the Amazon rainforest was officially
demarcated
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The Munduruku People have been fighting for the rights to a land that
has always belonged to them but is threatened by mining, illegal
logging, and infrastructure projects. This is a historic and
profoundly symbolic victory not only for the Munduruku, but for all
Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon and Brazil.

South Korea: Top Court Ruled the Country’s Carbon Neutrality Law as
Unconstitutional
On 29 August 2024, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled the
country’s carbon neutrality law as unconstitutional
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rights—making it the first ruling of its kind in Asia! The petition
was filed in 2020 by over 200 plaintiffs, including young activists
and even infants, and is Asia’s first climate court case targeting a
country’s carbon neutrality commitments. This is a major climate win
for future generations, and could potentially set a precedent in the
region for other climate cases.

Australia: Woolworths and McDonald’s Commit to Going
Deforestation-Free
Woolworths
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and McDonald’s
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Australia announced their commitments to source deforestation-free
beef. Woolworths will do so by the end of 2025 but McDonald’s will
implement theirs by 2030 (Greenpeace Australia Pacific will continue
to engage with McDonald’s to ensure they commit to taking
deforestation off the menu—by 2025!). These two giant corporations
are some of Australia’s biggest retailers and major buyers of
Australian beef.

This is a major example of people power as Greenpeace Australia
Pacific supporters had sent the big corporations thousands of emails,
demanding they go deforestation-free.

Global: Breakthrough for Global Tax Justice
In a big win for global tax justice, a favourable blueprint for a UN
Tax Convention
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that will pave the way for a fair and efficient global tax system was
laid out in August. An inclusive tax cooperation system will shift
power from a few rich OECD countries to the UN
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where every country has a vote and help governments around the world
recover the billions lost to tax dodging by multinational corporations
and the ultra-rich. There is still much to do to keep up the pressure
as negotiations will continue until 2027.

South Africa: Shell Loses Appeal in Case Halting Plans for Oil and
Gas Exploration
Big win against Shell in South Africa! After protests by the community
and fishers, Shell loses its appeal [[link removed]] against
the landmark decision in 2022 which ruled against their plans to
conduct oil and gas exploration off the Wild Coast of South Africa.
The court says Shell failed to properly inform and consult affected
communities, taking into account community rights and environmental
harm. Unfortunately, the fight is not yet over as the court has left
the door open for Shell’s application to renew its exploration
right. Together with allies and the community, Greenpeace Africa is
resolute in continuing to fight to stop Big Oil from exploiting the
planet for its own profit.

Papua: Major Land Rights Win for Indigenous Peoples
On June 6, 4,000 Indigenous Papuans finally received legal recognition
of customary rights
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over 97,411 hectares of tropical rainforests in South Sorong Regency.
The newly recognised Indigenous lands of the Knasaimos Peoples spans
an area almost the size of Hong Kong.

As with many Indigenous communities across Tanah Papua (the western
half of New Guinea, also known internationally as West Papua), the
Knasaimos Peoples have been fighting for decades to protect their
customary lands from exploitation by external interests such as
logging and plantation companies. This ruling finally provides legal
recognition of their rights to the land, forests, water, and other
natural resources that are their ancestral heritage.

Oceans: World’s Highest Oceans Court Ruling to Protect Our Oceans
In a historic Advisory Opinion
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the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the
world’s highest oceans court, found that greenhouse gas emissions
are a form of marine pollution and countries are obligated to reduce
emissions for the sake of our oceans. The ruling is a huge victory in
the protection and preservation of the marine environment
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Europe: European Nature Restoration Law Passed
The European Nature Restoration Law was passed
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and has come into effect! This law is the most important piece of
environmental legislation in Europe in decades, aiming to restore and
protect European biodiversity hotspots. It imposes unprecedented
legally binding obligations onto E.U. Member States to restore
protected nature reserves, peatlands, and dwindling bird and
pollinator populations, and protect urban nature amongst others. This
is a huge win for the nature movement in Europe!

Switzerland: Historic Court Win Confirms That Climate Protection Is a
Human Right
The Association of Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland,
also known as the KlimaSeniorinnen, took action against their country,
Switzerland, for violating the seniors’ human rights
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by failing to set sufficient climate targets. On April 9, they
received the landmark decision of the European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR), achieving a historic victory for all generations. The ruling
is an iconic moment for climate justice globally
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confirming that climate protection is a human right.

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Caroline Wagner is program support manager for the European
Collaboration at Greenpeace Germany.

Francesca Cresta is executive and governance assistant at Greenpeace
Italy.

Tan Lee Kuen is a content editor with Greenpeace International.

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* Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Oceans; Indigenous Rights; Climate
Targets;
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