Major Environmental Group Teeters on Edge of Bankruptcy After Massive Court Ruling

A North Dakota jury has ruled that Greenpeace must pay nearly $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer after being found liable for defamation and other claims related to the Dakota Access pipeline protests. This verdict marks a major legal and financial setback for the environmental organization.

Key Facts:

A North Dakota jury ruled that Greenpeace must pay nearly $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer.
The case stemmed from Greenpeace’s involvement in the 2016–2017 protests against the Dakota Access pipeline.
Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of defamation, trespass, nuisance, and civil conspiracy.
Greenpeace USA was found liable for the largest share of damages—$404 million.
Greenpeace plans to appeal, citing alleged trial irregularities and concerns over legal precedent.

The Rest of The Story:

The lawsuit, filed by Energy Transfer, accused Greenpeace of spreading false claims that the company desecrated burial sites and endangered the climate.

The jury found Greenpeace responsible for orchestrating protests and funding activities that disrupted pipeline construction.

During the trial, Energy Transfer’s legal team presented evidence showing that Greenpeace not only financed protest efforts but also trained activists, provided supplies, and encouraged disruptive actions.

Greenpeace’s attorneys countered that the lawsuit was an attempt to silence activism through financial intimidation.

The verdict divided damages among three Greenpeace entities, with Greenpeace USA shouldering the bulk of the responsibility.

In response, allied environmental groups claimed the trial was unfair and vowed to fight the ruling.

Jury finds Greenpeace must pay hundreds of millions in case over North Dakota pipeline protests https://t.co/1uyQo21O2R pic.twitter.com/R2GvczGdNW

— New York Post (@nypost) March 19, 2025

Commentary:

For years, Greenpeace operated under the belief that its cause justified any means—legal or not.

This ruling is a wake-up call: when activism crosses into lawlessness, there are consequences.

The organization has long relied on aggressive tactics, believing that public pressure and political allies would shield it from legal repercussions.

Those days appear to be over.

The jury’s decision sends a clear message—corporate sabotage and defamation won’t be tolerated.

While free speech is protected, knowingly spreading false information to obstruct lawful projects is not.

Greenpeace’s tactics of training and funding protests may have backfired, as jurors held them accountable for the chaos that unfolded.

Financially, this could be a devastating blow.

Even for a well-funded organization, a $667 million judgment is crippling.

A North Dakota jury just ordered the radical environmental group Greenpeace to pay $660 million in damages to the company behind the Dakota Access pipeline for defamation, trespassing, and conspiracy stemming from efforts to sabotage and shut down the pipeline's construction.…

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 20, 2025

With appeals looming, Greenpeace may delay the inevitable, but unless a higher court overturns the ruling, bankruptcy seems likely.

The public should also take note of the environmental movement’s shifting landscape.

Many groups still operate under the assumption that they can disrupt industries without consequence.

This case could set a legal precedent, forcing activists to reconsider how far they are willing to go.

The Bottom Line:

Greenpeace’s long history of aggressive activism has finally caught up with it.

A jury found the group responsible for defamation and other illegal activities, hitting it with a massive financial penalty.

While an appeal is in the works, this ruling could mark the beginning of the end for one of the world’s most prominent environmental organizations.