A jury in North Dakota has ruled against Greenpeace in a defamation case, ordering the environmental organisation to pay over $660 million (£507 million) in damages to Energy Transfer, a Texas-based oil company. The case stems from Greenpeace’s involvement in one of U.S. history's largest anti-fossil fuel protests. The lawsuit, filed in state court, accused Greenpeace of trespassing, creating a public nuisance, and engaging in civil conspiracy during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline nearly ten years ago.

After two days of deliberation, the nine-member jury delivered its verdict on Wednesday, March 19. The trial was held in Mandan, about 100 miles (160 km) north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, where the protests took place. Energy Transfer claimed that the group had carried out an “unlawful and violent scheme” intended to inflict financial harm on the company.

During the closing arguments, Energy Transfer’s attorney, Trey Cox, argued that Greenpeace’s actions had caused financial losses ranging from $265 million to $340 million. He urged the jury to grant that amount in damages, along with additional penalties. Greenpeace, which has pledged to appeal the ruling, previously warned that the lawsuit could drive it into bankruptcy, potentially ending its more than 50 years of activism. The organisation denied the accusations, stating that it did not lead the protests and condemning the lawsuit as a serious threat to free speech. Instead, it asserted that Indigenous leaders who opposed the pipeline’s construction led the demonstrations.

The Dakota Access Pipeline became a central focal point for global environmental and Indigenous rights activism during Donald Trump’s first term as president. Opponents of the project established a large encampment to halt its construction, arguing that it threatened water sources and sacred tribal lands. At its height, the movement drew over 10,000 protesters, including members from more than 200 Native American tribes, U.S. military veterans, actors, and political figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now serves as the U.S. health secretary. The protests started in April 2016 and ended in February 2017 when law enforcement and the National Guard forcibly dismantled the encampments. Despite ongoing legal and environmental hurdles, the 1,172-mile pipeline has operated since 2017. However, it has yet to secure a crucial permit to run beneath Lake Oahe in South Dakota while local tribes continue to advocate for a thorough environmental review.

Energy Transfer filed a lawsuit against Greenpeace USA, its Washington DC-based funding arm, Greenpeace Fund Inc., and its parent organisation, Greenpeace International, which is based in Amsterdam. In response, Greenpeace is fighting back with a lawsuit in the Netherlands, alleging that Energy Transfer is misusing the legal system to silence its critics. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, aims to hold the company accountable for all damages and legal fees.