Suriname pledges to permanently protect 90% of its forests, far exceeding the 30×30 global goal for climate and biodiversity protection

Top-tier rankings for Taiwan and Indonesia despite evidence of abuse Washington, D.C. (Sept. 30, 2025) – The U.S. government has once again awarded unmerited rankings in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report to two major players in the global seafood supply chain — Taiwan and Indonesia — despite acknowledging widespread forced labor, human trafficking, and weak government responses in both. Taiwan, home to one of the world’s largest industrial fishing fleets, received a Tier 1 ranking for the 16th consecutive year, while Indonesia, whose citizens comprise a significant portion of the crew on Taiwanese vessels, was placed in Tier 2. Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and coalition partners submitted detailed evidence of human rights issues to the TIP report and called for both Taiwan and Indonesia to be downgraded.  Sari Heidenreich, Greenpeace USA senior human rights advisor for global fisheries, said: “The thousands of victims of human trafficking who have been failed by the Indonesian and Taiwanese governments deserve better. By refusing to act — even as it acknowledges the link between forced labor and destructive fishing practices — the U.S. is signalling that it is acceptable to fail victims and maintain systems that allow for ongoing exploitation. Congress must step up to protect these essential workers, wherever they are, and keep seafood tainted by modern slavery off American dinner plates.”  Combating human trafficking globally has long been a U.S. priority with bipartisan support. The report was released three months past its congressionally established deadline, part of the Trump Administration’s short-sighted dismantling of key government programs and offices tasked with protecting the U.S. from seafood linked to fraud, forced labor, and environmental harm. That included a 70% staffing cut to the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, along with rollbacks at the International Labor Relations Bureau and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.   Heidenreich continued: “The maintenance of a failed status quo, coupled with the delayed report release and weakening of safeguards, directly contradicts the Administration’s stated goals of combating human trafficking and ‘Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.’ The Trump administration must back its words with actions by resourcing these vital programs and downgrading both Taiwan and Indonesia.”  Taiwan is home to one of the largest industrial fishing fleets in the world, and Greenpeace East Asia has repeatedly called out the Taiwanese government on its lack of action to address issues that lead to systemic forced labor in the fishing industry. Shay Kuo, Greenpeace East Asia Taipei ocean campaigner, said: “It is deeply concerning that we continue to see a lack of meaningful progress from the Taiwanese government. The Taiwanese government’s failure to address key civil society demands like mandatory Wi-Fi on fishing vessels, requiring ships to return to port more frequently, full implementation of electronic surveillance, and eliminating high brokerage fees paid by workers will remain a major obstacle to protecting the industry’s most vulnerable workers.”  This year, for the first time, Greenpeace Indonesia, in partnership with a coalition of organizations, jointly submitted comments to the U.S. State Department on Indonesia’s efforts to combat human trafficking. They called on the State Department to downgrade Indonesia to the Tier 2 Watchlist.  Fildza Nabila, Greenpeace Indonesia oceans campaigner representing the Indonesia coalition, said: “Indonesia’s continued placement at Tier 2 in this year’s TIP Report overlooks the gravity of the situation in Indonesia. Civil society groups have documented extensive evidence throughout 2024 pointing to a lack of meaningful progress in addressing trafficking in persons, particularly in the fishing sector. Twelve migrant fishers whose cases remain unresolved more than a year after being reported are among many victims still denied justice. The government has failed to identify victims, prosecute traffickers, or curb deceptive recruitment practices. The coalition urges the Indonesian government to confront this crisis head-on, prosecute traffickers, and end the cycle of exploitation across the recruitment chain.” The Greenpeace global network’s Beyond Seafood Campaign has called for concerted action by all stakeholders and governments along the supply chain to end the practice of isolation at sea. This includes: Free, accessible, and secure Wi-Fi on all fishing vessels to allow fishers to have contact with their families, unions, and governments. Capping time at sea at three months to reduce the risk of human rights abuse, forced labor, and human trafficking. 100% human or electronic observer coverage to ensure vital data on catch composition, bycatch, interactions with protected species, and overall fishing practices are reported by independent and impartial parties. Freedom of association and access to unions for workers are key enabling rights to ensure a strong worker voice and protections across the various stages of the supply chain. It is essential to have accessible grievance mechanisms, including those available at sea, that are secure and responsive. These mechanisms should allow workers to raise issues as they arise, and companies must respond promptly, providing remedies and directly addressing the root causes of the problems.  Heidenreich continued: “Regardless of the U.S. government’s continued failure to act, the seafood industry, including retailers and producers, has a responsibility to both workers and consumers. It is outrageous that, given clear evidence of systemic and persistent abuses, the seafood industry continues to profit from a business model built on modern slavery. These corporations can no longer afford to wait for the government to do what is necessary—they must take immediate, decisive action to address the deep-rooted exploitation within their seafood supply chains.” Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, tbrooks@greenpeace.org   Greenpeace USA Press Desk: mediausa@greenpeace.org Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post US soft on human trafficking in new report  appeared first on Greenpeace.

A green turtle off Isabela Island, Galápagos, Ecuador. The Arctic Sunrise is on a six-week expedition around the Galápagos islands, with scientists from the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation, the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Galápagos Science Center, MigraMar and Galápagos park rangers. The expedition will showcase the power of marine protection by documenting the success of the Galápagos Marine Reserve through the incredible wildlife and habitats of the sea near the Galápagos. Data collected during the expedition will help to make the case for a new high seas protected area. © Tommy Trenchard / Greenpeace NEW YORK (Sept. 19, 2025) — In a landmark moment for ocean protection, the Global Ocean Treaty reached its 60th ratification today as world leaders gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, clearing the way for the historic agreement to enter into force. But this crucial milestone must be met with urgent action from nations during the countdown to the world’s first Ocean Conference of Parties (COP). With only 0,9% of the High Seas currently fully or highly protected, the Treaty is crucial to expanding protection,  establishing sanctuaries that help mitigate the climate crisis, and safeguarding food security for the billions who depend on ocean resources. New analysis by Greenpeace International has revealed that to protect 30% of the high seas by 2030, Governments would need to protect more than 12 million km2 every year for the next five years. This area is bigger than the size of Canada.[1] Mads Christensen, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, said: “This is a landmark moment for protecting the ocean, and proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet. The era of exploitation and destruction must end, and the Global Ocean Treaty is the tool to make that happen. But we must not get complacent. Scientists are clear that we need to protect at least 30% of our ocean by 2030, and time is running out. Governments around the world must use this time now to ensure the first historic Ocean COP becomes a turning point, and start to develop plans for the first-ever sanctuaries under the Treaty. Our ocean can’t wait and neither can we.”  Campaigners are warning that immediate action is required from nations to start developing plans for high seas sanctuaries as time is running out to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, a target Governments have already agreed to: Governments must now mobilise to use the next few months before the first Ocean COP to start working on developing new high seas sanctuaries. These areas must be fully or highly protected to ensure that vast areas of the ocean are closed to extractive and destructive human activities, unlike many current Marine Protected Areas which are protected in name only. Governments must ensure that the Treaty has the power to implement measures quickly, without being tied up in delays or having to rely on bodies like Regional Fisheries Management Organisations which have overseen the depletion of the ocean for decades.[2] Governments need to ensure that the development of sanctuaries is based on robust scientific evidence and with participation from Indigenous Peoples and local communities to ensure the process is driven by science and socially just. The Treaty will enter into force in 120 days, paving the way for the first-ever Ocean COP, likely taking place in 2026. Greenpeace USA also calls on the remaining countries to ratify the Treaty quickly and before the world’s first Ocean COP. If they don’t, they won’t have a seat at the table. Greenpeace USA and millions of supporters are also calling on countries to show the same ambition as with the Global Ocean Treaty and join a moratorium on deep sea mining, a new destructive form of mining that would damage the oceans beyond repair.[3]  Notes to Editors Greenpeace spokespeople are available for interview or further comment. Please get in touch with Florri Burton or Tanya Brooks to arrange this. Photographs are available here Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, tbrooks@greenpeace.org Florri Burton, Global Media Lead, Oceans Are Life, Greenpeace Nordic,  +447896523839, florri.burton@greenpeace.org  Greenpeace International Press Desk: +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org [1] The calculation is based on numbers provided by the Marine Protection Atlas. Currently, only 0.9% of the total High Seas area is fully or highly protected. To reach the target of protecting 30% of the High Seas by 2030, an additional 29.1% is still needed. This 29.1% was divided by five to determine how many km2 of the High Seas must be fully/ highly protected each year between 2026 and 2030. [2] Greenpeace report reveals shocking failures in global fisheries management  [3] Greenpeace deep sea mining petition The post Nations urged to immediately start work on high seas sanctuaries as historic Ocean Treaty milestone hit appeared first on Greenpeace.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (September 20, 2025)—Greenpeace USA activists deployed a giant “Climate Polluters Bill” nearly 160 feet long — the length of an Olympic swimming pool — through midtown Manhattan today, while marching in a mass demonstration during Climate Week NYC and on the eve of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit.[1]  Photos of the giant bill and the march will be available later this afternoon in the Greenpeace Media Library.  The bill reveals that — over just the last 10 years and only accounting for the climate pollution from five major oil and gas companies — the projected economic damage is over $5 trillion USD, according to leading experts on the social cost of carbon (SCC).[2] Greenpeace USA Executive Director, Sushma Raman, said: “Communities and families are losing their homes, schools, and livelihoods, while Big Oil billionaires are raking in astronomical profits. They want to cast off any liability for their actions, and push the rising costs of the damage they’ve inflicted onto working class families. A small handful of oil and gas companies are impacting people now and in the future to the score of more than $5 trillion. Their climate bill is long overdue, and it is time they pay up.” The new analysis finds that in the 10 years since nations signed the Paris Climate Agreement (2016-2025), emissions from a small handful of the world’s largest investor-owned fossil fuel companies are projected to amount to $5.36 trillion in damages from climate fueled disasters including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, heatwaves and drought — with costs that are already impacting people and expected to continue well into the future.[2]  The giant bill carried by dozens of activists in the NYC march also highlights some of the most extreme weather events to hit the world over the past decade.[3] These types of extreme weather are becoming more frequent and severe due to emissions from the global fossil fuel industry. In the past 10 years, the world has experienced the 10 warmest years on record,[4] while at the same time ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP and TotalEnergies alone reported profits of almost $800 billion.[5]  Greenpeace International Executive Director, Mads Christensen, said: “No one is safe from deadly heatwaves, wildfires, toxic air, and rising seas. Yet those most sheltered from the crisis — the super-rich and oil and gas giants — keep profiting while the rest of us pay the price. It’s time to flip the script: governments must make polluters pay and use that money to fund a secure, green future. World leaders have a historic chance at COP30 and in negotiations for a UN Global Tax Convention to close the climate finance gap and to raise billions to protect people and the planet. We demand a new polluter tax on the global profits of oil and gas corporations, alongside taxing wealthy elites and addressing illicit financial flows.” Greenpeace, along with 250,000 individuals and over 60 other organizations around the world, supports the Polluters Pay Pact, which demands that world leaders make oil, coal and gas corporations pay their fair share of climate damages. Notes: Photos and videos from the mass ‘Draw the Line’ demonstration in NYC available on the Greenpeace Media library.  [1] Draw the Line is a global week of events starting on September 15, leading up to a weekend of actions between September 19-21. [2] The quantification of economic damages since 2015 was provided to Greenpeace International by Prof. James Rising of the University of Delaware and Dr. Lisa Rennels of Stanford University. The analysis, which is available here, uses data from the Carbon Majors Database and the SCC methodology. The SCC was used by former US administrations and policy analysts to assign a dollar value to future damages from an additional ton of CO₂ between the year of its emissions through to the year 2300. Emissions data for the oil and gas companies was extracted from the Carbon Majors Database, which in turn sources emissions data from publicly available company reports. [3] The giant bill is populated with a selection of some of the most expensive and notable extreme weather events since the Paris Agreement was adopted. These are sourced from the International Disaster Database EM-DAT. In this case they are noted for representative purposes only and not as part of the social cost of carbon calculation.  [4] WMO confirms 2024 as warmest year on record at about 1.55°C above pre-industrial level [5] Calculations for reported profits between 2016 and first half of 2025, for ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, TotalEnergies, can be seen here. Data originally sourced from company reporting. Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post Greenpeace USA unveils giant “bill” with the economic damages brought on by five major oil and gas companies at NYC Climate Week appeared first on Greenpeace.

Greenpeace US Democracy Director Folabi Olagbaj addresses rally. © Tim Aubry / Greenpeace WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 19, 2025) –  In response to a Louisiana immigration Judge ordering the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil – a legal permanent resident and nonviolent protester – to Syria or Algeria in what appears to be retribution for his pro-Palestinian advocacy, Greenpeace USA Democracy Campaign Director, Folabi Olagbaju said: “Targeting activists for deportation is not a rule of law, it’s a rule of fear. This sets a dangerous precedent: using immigration enforcement to penalize political dissent and silence protest.“What’s happening right now is bigger than one activist. If the government can target Khalil for his advocacy, none of us are safe when we speak truth to power. “Greenpeace USA rejects the weaponization of deportation proceedings to suppress free speech. For decades, our movement has shown up in solidarity and peaceful protest against injustice. Free speech and nonviolent direct action have shaped this nation’s conscience, from the Boston Tea Party to Selma to Standing Rock, and our rights must not be undermined now!  “Throughout our 50 year existence, Greenpeace USA has been no stranger to threats and attempts to silence our activism and solidarity with Indigenous voices through the U.S. legal system. So we can speak with certainty about the power of strength in numbers and refusing to capitulate to cowardly devices. They can’t silence a movement.  “Mahmoud Khalil, Jimmy Kimmel, and all others at risk for speaking truth to power – we are with you.” Khalil’s lawyers have 30 days from the September 12 decision to appeal the Board of Immigration Appeals. They’ve formally asked the U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz—who oversees his civil rights case in the District of New Jersey—to intercede. Join us in encouraging Judge Farbiarz to intercede and prevent Khalil’s imminent deportation.  Greenpeace USA Press Desk: mediausa@greenpeace.org Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post We must all challenge the unprecedented ruling in Mahmoud Khalil immigration case appeared first on Greenpeace.

People gather outside the New Amsterdam Courthouse holding a banner reading “Energy Transfer, Welcome To The EU Where Free Speech Is Still A Thing” to mark the beginning of Greenpeace International’s anti-SLAPP lawsuit against fossil fuel pipeline company Energy Transfer filed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. © Tengbeh Kamara / Greenpeace MANDAN, N.D. (September 10, 2025) – In response to North Dakota District Court Judge James Gion rejecting Energy Transfer’s request for an anti-suit injunction in Greenpeace International’s landmark anti-intimidation lawsuit, Greenpeace USA Interim Executive Director, Sushma Raman, said:  “From the beginning, we have said the truth is on our side. Energy Transfer must understand their attempts to abuse our legal system and bully their way to a win will never supersede the law. I applaud our allies at Greenpeace International for taking full advantage of the new anti-SLAPP directive in the European Union to make them whole after this gross abuse of the law and drain on financial resources. It’s the exact reason Greenpeace USA continues to push for similar anti-SLAPP protections at the federal level in the United States. Until then, we remain committed to exposing the lawsuit in North Dakota for what it really is: an act of corporate intimidation trying to silence Indigenous voices and their allies.”  You can read more from Greenpeace International and find all of the available legal filings here. CONTACT: Madison Carter, Greenpeace USA National Press Secretary, madison.carter@greenpeace.org For more than 50 years, Greenpeace USA has responsibly practiced non-violent direct action (NVDA) to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions essential to a green, just, and joyful future for people and the planet. In 2017, Energy Transfer, the company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), sued Greenpeace entities (Greenpeace Inc. & Greenpeace Fund based in the U.S., and Greenpeace International) for $300 million in federal court, alleging that the entities violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) — a federal statute originally designed to eliminate mob activity. Specifically, Energy Transfer falsely accused the entities of organizing the historic #NoDAPL resistance at Standing Rock — a racist claim that attempts to undermine tribal sovereignty. This case has been widely recognized as a Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), a tactic used by corporations to silence constitutionally protected free speech and advocacy in the United States. In 2019, a federal judge dismissed the federal claims, prompting Energy Transfer to refile a nearly identical case in North Dakota state court — one of only 17 states with no anti-SLAPPprotections. The lawsuit went to a trial in February 2025 before a jury of North Dakotans, resulting in a profoundly unjust verdict that awarded Energy Transfer over $660 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Currently, the Greenpeace entities are still awaiting a final decision from the judge on post trial motions and entry of judgment.  Greenpeace USA will continue fighting back against this case, including by appealing to the North Dakota Supreme Court.  For more information, visit: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/energy-transfer-lawsuit/ The post North Dakota court will not block Greenpeace International from using European anti-SLAPP laws against Energy Transfer appeared first on Greenpeace.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 27, 2025)—In response to the Trump administration’s opening of an official rulemaking process to revoke Roadless Rule protections for more than 44 million acres of national forest land, Amy Moas, Ph.D., Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner, said: “We have seen this sad show before. During his first term, in January 2020, Trump attempted to do the same thing. Then the U.S. Forest Service received a quarter of a million public comments in response to the draft proposal — 96% of which voiced support for safeguarding the Roadless Rule. This move, made clearly in opposition to public opinion, highlights how this administration has little regard for what people in this nation both need and want. “This popular conservation measure established in 2001 protects some of the last and largest remaining tracts of our nation’s forests, as well as the wildlife and carbon it holds, from new and catastrophic clearcut logging. Thriving forests, such as the Tongass in Alaska, are crucial for the health of our planet, local economies, and countless wildlife species.” In October 2020, the Trump administration removed roadless protections, in opposition to the public comments received by the US Forest Service. The move put millions of acres of previously protected old growth forest, in places like Alaska’s Tongass, in jeopardy. The Biden administration reinstated the measure in full in January 2023.  Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post Here we go again – Trump administration begins process to repeal the Roadless Rule appeared first on Greenpeace.

Greenpeace International activists peacefully confronted UK Royal Research Ship James Cook in the East Pacific waters as it returned from a seven-week long expedition to a section of the Pacific Ocean targeted for deep sea mining. An activist scaled the side of the moving vessel to unfurl a banner reading “Say No to Deep Sea Mining”, while two Māori Indigenous activists swam in front of the RRS James Cook, one holding the Māori flag and the other a flag reading “Don’t Mine the Moana” (don’t mine in the oceans). © Martin Katz / Greenpeace WASHINGTON, DC (August 7, 2025) — In response to the announcement that the United States has begun discussions with the government of the Cook Islands to support research into seabed exploration and “responsible development” within the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone, Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA’s project lead for the Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign, said: “This announcement signals yet another backdoor attempt by the U.S. to legitimize deep-sea mining — this time under the guise of ‘science’ and ‘responsibility.’ History shows that exploration usually leads to exploitation, and once a new frontier is opened to resource exploitation, that door rarely swings shut again.”  The announcement is the latest in a growing trend by the Trump Administration to open the deep seabed up to commercial mining. In April 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order to greenlight deep-sea mining in international waters, signaling a possible intent to bypass international safeguards. Just days later, the world’s first commercial mining application was filed. A new Greenpeace USA report – Deep Deception – outlines how much of this push may have come as a result of deep sea mining corporations investing significant lobbying toward congressional defense hawks, as the industry largely abandons their greenwashing narrative of “climate heroism” for one of U.S. national security and defense.  The U.S. faces a long process to establish its legal framework, and the timeline for commercial production remains uncertain – subject to indefinite delays due to technical, financial, and regulatory hurdles. It has also encountered global public backlash from several states, civil society groups, and Indigenous Pacific communities on its plans to mine in either U.S. domestic waters or on the international seabed under U.S. unilateral authority. However, sidestepping all of that in favor of working with a nation ready to launch the industry, offers the Trump Administration an even faster track towards exploiting the deep sea bed for greed, not need.  “The world is not ready to open the ‘Pandora’s Box’ known as deep sea mining. The science isn’t nearly sufficient. We would risk tinkering with planetary systems we still know almost nothing about,” added Hemphill. “The safest and most credible path forward is a global pause — one that prioritizes science, safeguards fragile ecosystems, and protects the ocean as the common heritage of all humankind. If the U.S. is serious about ocean protection, it must stop making piecemeal deals and instead support a global moratorium.” Alanna Smith, director of the Cook Islands–based NGO Te Ipukarea Society, said: “The Cook Islands Government has already issued three five-year exploration licenses to two U.S. mining companies (Moana Minerals and CIC) and to one Belgian company (CSR), which is in a joint venture with the Cook Islands Government. Achieving “Responsible Development” would mean ensuring independent deep sea research was being conducted in our waters, not issuing another exploration license. “Pacific communities are on the front lines of deep-sea mining’s risks. This industry threatens fragile biodiversity, vital fisheries, and the cultural and economic lifeblood of nations like the Cook Islands. Our future should not be put in jeopardy for short-term corporate promises that may never be fulfilled.” Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, tbrooks@greenpeace.org   Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post Greenpeace USA Condemns U.S.–Cook Islands Deep-Sea Mining Talks as Backdoor Push for Extraction appeared first on Greenpeace.

Indonesian fishers who sued Bumble Bee, alleging years of forced labor while catching fish sold by the US tuna brand, responded to the company’s motion to dismiss their suit, arguing in the U.S. legal filing on July 31 that they have a right to have their allegations heard in court. This image was taken by Greenpeace USA activists in solidarity with these fishers. © Sandy Huffaker / Greenpeace San Diego, CA (August 1, 2025) — On July 31, Indonesian fishers who sued Bumble Bee, alleging years of forced labor while catching fish sold by the U.S. tuna brand, responded to the company’s motion to dismiss their suit, arguing that they have a right to have their allegations heard in court.   The reply contends that, the plaintiffs plausibly allege, and Bumble Bee does not dispute, that the plaintiffs were forced to labor by the vessel owners and argues the company was long specifically aware of such abuses in its supply chain, asserting this meets the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) standard. The reply also defends the plaintiffs’ negligence claims, stating Bumble Bee’s actions created both risk of forced labor and incentive for the vessel owners to abuse the plaintiffs.  The fishers filed suit against Bumble Bee in March under the TVPRA, one of the first times the seafood industry has been challenged under this Act in a U.S. court. The four fishers allege conditions of forced labor: that they were held in debt bondage, denied fair wages, isolated at sea for months, and subjected to both physical and psychological abuse while catching tuna that was sold by Bumble Bee in the U.S. Sari Heidenreich, senior human rights advisor at Greenpeace USA, said: “The plaintiffs’ reply is clear — their case meets the high standards required by U.S. law and should be heard by the court. I am confident they will prevail.” According to the reply, Bumble Bee sources 95% to 100% of its albacore through its Taiwanese parent company, Fong Chun Formosa (FCF), and a ‘trusted network’ of vessels. The reply argues that many of the vessels in that network, including those “the plaintiffs were forced to work” on, fish exclusively for Bumble Bee. The plaintiffs argue their experiences reflect a broader pattern, partially enabled by Bumble Bee’s continued use of transshipment — a practice widely criticized by experts and increasingly abandoned by other major seafood companies due to its links to forced labor.  Heidenreich continued: “Rather than act to ensure that workers in their supply chain are protected from forced labor and abuse, Bumble Bee has attempted to sweep them aside through a procedural motion. This move is more than just a legal strategy; it is an attempt to avoid accountability, silence vulnerable workers, and protect corporate interests over human dignity. Without attempting to remedy any harms that occurred on these vessels and improving that workplace for current and future workers, this is akin to the practice of ‘cut and run’, which experts agree is irresponsible and leaves workers in an even more vulnerable situation. “In response to consumer demand, Bumble Bee has allowed customers to trace each can of tuna they buy back to the boat that caught it.  But in its Motion to Dismiss, it attempted to distance itself from these same suppliers. Bumble Bee cannot have it both ways. The TVPRA and trade law make clear that corporate responsibility doesn’t stop at the U.S. border. Companies that cannot take responsibility for the products they sell have no business profiting from them. “A just and sustainable seafood industry must prioritize the well-being of all its stakeholders — from the migrant fishers working under dangerous conditions to the American consumers who have made it clear: they do not want seafood tainted by modern slavery or environmental destruction.” A letter expressing solidarity with these individuals was released today by 45 organizations from eight countries. The signers, which include the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Friends of the Earth, and Freedom United, condemn human trafficking, while expressing support for the right of all individuals to seek justice and demand accountability. They also highlight the essential and inseparable relationship between healthy oceans and decent work. Greenpeace USA continues to call for decisive action from every actor in the seafood supply chain to help end isolation at sea. This includes mandating: Free, accessible, and secure wifi on all fishing vessels to allow fishers to have contact with their families, unions, and governments; Capping time at sea at three months to reduce the risk of human rights abuse, forced labor, and human trafficking; and  100% human or electronic observer coverage to ensure vital data on catch composition, bycatch, interactions with protected species, and overall fishing practices are reported by independent and impartial parties. In addition, unionization and the right of association are essential to empowering workers across all parts of the seafood supply chain. Accessible, secure, and responsive grievance mechanisms — available both on land and at sea — must become a standard in the industrial fishing industry. These tools are critical not just for addressing abuses when they occur but also for preventing them in the first place. At least 128,000 fishers worldwide are victims of forced labor, which is strongly connected to other fisheries-related crimes, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These activities significantly contribute to the worsening of the ocean and climate crises. Images and videos are available here. Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, tbrooks@greenpeace.org   Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post Indonesian fishers respond to Bumble Bee’s attempt to dismiss forced labor suit appeared first on Greenpeace.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 29, 2025)—In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it would rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, John Noël, Greenpeace USA Climate Campaign Director, said: “After decades of scientific research firmly documenting the connection between carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect — plus the backing of the EPA’s authority to take action by the Supreme Court — we are surprised to hear that carbon pollution has just been a big misunderstanding between the entire world’s scientific community and a few MAGA podcasters. So congrats to Lee Zeldin on his official induction into the Flat Earth Society, Space Laser Investigation Unit, and ChemTrail Facebook Dads.  “This announcement is just one more handout from Trump to Big Oil so that he can line the pockets of billionaires. There’s nothing reasonable or science-based about it.” The endangerment finding serves as the government’s primary basis for setting carbon pollution limits. A rollback of this finding would severely limit the government’s ability to fight climate change and expose countless people to harmful pollution from coal and gas-fired power plants, car and truck exhaust, and methane from the oil and gas industry. Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. The post Amid EPA rollbacks, polluters rejoice at the people’s expense appeared first on Greenpeace.