“Brightening up the News Cycle: Inspiring Stories of Progress from Across the Globe”

Greenpeace International has released a new report highlighting notable wins in the climate and environmental justice space from around the world. The report aims to inspire and motivate people around the globe to continue fighting for a better, greener, and fairer world for all. From securing a Global Ocean Treaty to banning private jets and night flights, these wins demonstrate what can be achieved through perseverance and collective action.

The Global Ocean Treaty, a result of years of campaigning, provides a clear pathway for governments to protect at least 30% of the oceans by 2030. This treaty opens the door to the creation of a network of sanctuaries across the globe that will help fragile ecosystems and marine life to recover and thrive. Now the mission is to put the treaty into the strongest possible use without delay!

In a historic first for climate justice, the United Nations General Assembly has asked the International Court of Justice to advise on countries’ duties to protect human rights from the climate crisis and the legal consequences under international law for those who breach those duties. Greenpeace worked closely with Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change and other organizations to gain the support of UN member countries around the world. This win is a story of love, solidarity, and an idea that has grown from a grassroots campaign to a global movement.

Greenpeace Netherlands, after months of campaigning with other allies and affected communities, has convinced Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, to ban private jets and night flights from 2025 onwards due to the unfair levels of noise and pollution. Private jets are the most polluting and unequal form of transport, and banning them is a matter of justice. The next step is to spread this ban across the world!

A US federal court has dismissed a seven-year lawsuit brought by Resolute Forest Products against Greenpeace entities, including Greenpeace International and Greenpeace USA. The Canadian logging company had sued the Greenpeace defendants for CA $100 million in an attempt to silence and bankrupt them after criticizing its unsustainable forestry practices. This win sets a precedent against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and shows that they’re an illegal attempt by powerful corporations to shut down criticism from activists, academics, journalists, whistleblowers, and everyday people.

In a significant win for environmental activists, the municipality of Cayar in Senegal has banned the discharge of wastewater into a local lake and its surroundings. This decision is a major win for a local community campaign against a nearby fishmeal factory’s polluting practices. The Taxawu Cayar Collective hailed the decision, using it to launch new litigation against the factory.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has passed a verdict on the Bulgarian government allowing the biggest coal plant in the Balkans to pollute beyond EU legal limits. The ruling has a potential impact on the future permits of other major polluters across EU regions. This decision is a welcome win for environmentalists as emissions from Bulgaria’s coal-fired power plants have led to 3,160 additional deaths from air pollution between 2016 and 2020, while the costs to the health system alone amounted to €11.8 billion over the same period.

While these wins may seem small in the grand scheme of things, they demonstrate that collective action can make a significant difference. These examples also offer hope, inspiration, and motivation for anyone working to protect the environment, climate, and human rights.

However, there’s still more work to be done to ensure that these victories are not rolled back, and progress continues. Private jets, night flights, and coal-fired power plants must be banned not just in one country but across the world. It is also essential to ensure that governments prioritize the protection of people’s welfare from environmental degradation, as they move forward with sustainable development. It’s time for individuals and organizations worldwide to take up the role of watchdogs and demand more of corporations and governments to protect the planet’s welfare.

In conclusion, Greenpeace’s report provides a ray of hope for a better, greener, and more just world. These wins show that collective action, determined advocacy, and environmental litigation can make a difference. It’s essential to celebrate these wins, build on them, and continue the fight for a healthier planet for all.

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