Bonn, Germany – A lack of urgency to address the escalating climate crisis has marred the Bonn Climate Change Conference, leaving much work to be done to deliver real progress on climate and biodiversity action at COP30 in Brazil.   

Ambition to accelerate mitigation, including transitioning away from fossil fuels in upcoming 2035 climate action plans was lacking and talks stalled on climate finance and the Baku to Belém roadmap to mobilise up to US$1.3 trillion for developing countries became polarised. Efforts to secure an end to deforestation by 2030 also struggled to find a landing ground.

An Lambrechts, Biodiversity Policy Expert, Greenpeace International, said: “As temperatures escalate, efforts to end deforestation and protect critical ecosystems are an essential part of the 1.5°C solution. But if an action plan to end forest destruction is to be agreed in Belém, parties must grasp the urgency and deliver a transformative COP30 forest outcome.

“While there were some positive signs for potential progress on synergies between climate and biodiversity action in Belém, there’s been far too much procrastination in Bonn and too little decision-making. We believe in multilateralism, but that spirit needs to be reinvigorated ahead of COP30 to accelerate the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems.”

Lorelei Limousin, Climate and Fossil Fuels Campaigner, Greenpeace France said: “The 1.5°C goal is getting harder every day and ambition to deliver the Paris Agreement must be ramped up in 2035 climate action plans. As custodian of the Paris Agreement, France must drive ambition and needs to support EU targets for both 2035 and 2040 that are aligned with 1.5°C.

“Macron’s attempts to weaken EU ambition is sabotaging the Paris Agreement in its 10th anniversary year, putting at risk EU climate leadership. Instead of backtracking, France – and the EU – need to signal they’ll move ahead and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

“But the EU and Global North as a whole, must also help unlock robust public climate finance to help stimulate climate action in developing countries. One clear solution is to give the bill to the fossil fuel producers and make them pay for the climate destruction their products cause.”

Camila Jardim, International Politics Specialist, Greenpeace Brazil said: “Amid challenging times, this is a great opportunity for Brazilian climate leadership to emerge. As COP30 host, Brazil can make the goal of halting global deforestation and forest degradation a reality, delivering a fruitful COP30 legacy to forests all over the world.

“2035 NDCs and bridging the 1.5°C ambition gap is the make-or-break for COP30. A strong COP outcome is needed to combat the expected shortfall in ambition alongside finance to enable greater action in developing countries. But in Bonn a stalemate on emission reductions and finance was exposed, as the Global Stocktake and NDCs became a new taboo in negotiation rooms and developed countries refused to step up on finance. This needs to change – it’s time to act.” 

ENDS

Contacts:

Aaron Gray-Block, Climate Politics Communications Manager, Greenpeace International, aaron.gray-block@greenpeace.org

Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org

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In a clear message to corporate bullies everywhere, Greenpeace International is heading back to court in July — this time in the Netherlands — to challenge a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) filed by oil pipeline company Energy Transfer. This is a landmark test of the European Union’s new anti-SLAPP Law, and the outcome could set a precedent that helps invalidate abusive lawsuits across Europe, and show that freedom of speech is strong and that corporate bullying will not stand.

Major oil companies and other polluters around the world are increasingly using SLAPP lawsuits intended to bury nonprofits and activists in legal fees, push them towards bankruptcy, and ultimately silence dissent.

This is exactly what has happened to several Greenpeace organisations. The fossil fuel pipeline company Energy Transfer brought a SLAPP lawsuit in the US against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace in the USA, related to the Standing Rock Indigenous-led resistance against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. In March of this year, a jury found the environmental organisations liable to pay a perverse US$667 million in damages to Energy Transfer. This is a textbook example of a SLAPP.

These suits, increasingly favored by billionaires and fossil fuel corporations, should alarm every single person, regardless of ideology or political affiliation. If corporations can sue environmental organisations into silence, they can do the same to journalists, whistleblowers, unions, and grassroots movements. Today, it’s protests for the right to clean water and a safe climate. Tomorrow, it could be reproductive rights, racial justice, labor rights or any cause that threatens those in power.

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The EU defends itself against SLAPPs

In Europe, CASE – the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe – identified more than a thousand SLAPP cases during 2010-2023, with 166 filed in 2023 alone

In order to better protect journalists, human rights activists, and their organisations from abusive lawsuits in the future, the European Union adopted the Anti-SLAPP Directive in April 2024. This is intended to prevent rich companies from abusing courts to silence those who express critical views and give victims of SLAPPs the opportunity to defend themselves.

The new EU Anti-SLAPP Directive is applied in Greenpeace International’s lawsuit against Energy Transfer, where the goal is to recover all damages and costs that Greenpeace International incurred in Energy Transfer’s abusive SLAPP lawsuits.

Although the deadline for EU member states to transpose the Directive into national law is 7 May 2026, the Dutch government has indicated that enforcement of the Anti-SLAPP Directive is already possible in the Netherlands through the application of existing Dutch law. Chapter V of the Directive in particular protects EU-based organizations from SLAPP lawsuits brought by non-EU entities, and grants them the right to compensation.

This court case is an important first test of the new EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, and could set a precedent to invalidate abusive lawsuits, clear the way for justice in other similar intimidating cases, and show that corporate bullying will not stand. Now or ever. It’s time to resist.

Amy Jacobsen, Legal counsel, Greenpeace International