Shell v Greenpeace: How the Climate Clash Has Ended

The legal battle between Shell and Greenpeace has reached a conclusion after more than a year. 

The British oil and gas giant had sued the environmental campaign group for for US$2.1m following a protest that involved activists occupying a moving oil platform for 13 days as it travelled from the Canary Islands to Norway.

The lawsuit has now been settled out of court.

As part of the agreement, Greenpeace will not accept any liability or pay money directly to Shell. Instead, it will donate £300,000 (US$382,500) to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Protests at sea

In January 2023, six Greenpeace activists boarded the White Marlin, a Shell-operated floating production vessel, north of the Canary Islands.
The campaigners, protesting against fossil fuels and oil drilling, reached the ship using inflatable boats.

Shell initially threatened to sue Greenpeace, with the oil company justifying the lawsuit by citing safety concerns and increased security costs.

Greenpeace accused Shell of using "bullying tactics" against peaceful protest, while Shell maintained that the action posed a serious risk to life.

Settlement terms

The settlement includes the following key points:

• Greenpeace will donate £300,000 to the RNLI
• The organisation will not protest at three Shell oil and gas fields in the northern North Sea for five to 10 years
• Greenpeace agreed to avoid disrupting or traveling within 500 meters of Shell's Gannet, Nelson and Shearwater fields
• The group will not protest at the Penguins site for 10 years

Reactions to the Settlement

Areeba Hamid, Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace UK, said: “This settlement shows that people power works. Thousands of ordinary people across the country backed our fight against Shell and their support means we stay independent and can keep holding big oil to account. 

“We’ve ensured not a penny of our supporters’ money will go to Shell and all funds raised will be used to continue campaigning against the fossil fuel industry and other big polluters.

“This legal battle might be over, but big oil’s dirty tricks aren’t going away. With Greenpeace facing further legal battles 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 planet.”

In a statement, Shell said that it is pleased that the dispute has been settled and that Greenpeace’s donation to the RNLI “can benefit a charity working on safety at sea”.

A spokesperson for the company added: “For Shell, the right to protest is fundamental and has never been at issue. Instead, this case was about an illegal boarding by protesters which a high court judge described as ‘putting their lives and, indirectly, the lives of the crew at risk’. 

“He was also clear that Greenpeace could still protest from a safe distance and their human rights were not infringed.”

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“We’ve ensured not a penny of our supporters’ money will go to Shell and all funds raised will be used to continue campaigning against the fossil fuel industry and other big polluters.

“This legal battle might be over, but big oil’s dirty tricks aren’t going away. With Greenpeace facing further legal battles 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 planet.”

In a statement, Shell said that it is pleased that the dispute has been settled and that Greenpeace’s donation to the RNLI “can benefit a charity working on safety at sea”.

A spokesperson for the company added: “For Shell, the right to protest is fundamental and has never been at issue. Instead, this case was about an illegal boarding by protesters which a high court judge described as ‘putting their lives and, indirectly, the lives of the crew at risk’. 

“He was also clear that Greenpeace could still protest from a safe distance and their human rights were not infringed.”

Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE. 

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand