Shell threatens Greenpeace with millions of dollars after climate protests

Shell, in conjunction with UK rig builder Fluor, has begun a lawsuit against Greenpeace. A Shell spokesman confirmed that the companies hold the environment organization responsible for the additional costs incurred when Greenpeace members occupied an oil platform on the high seas for several days at the beginning of this year. According to the companies, this costs a total of $8.6 million.

The platform was on board the Boskalis ship on its way to the so-called Penguin Field, northeast of the Shetland Islands. Activists called on the company to stop exploring new oil and gas fields and instead contribute to a climate damage fund that has not yet been established.

According to Shell, several additional costs were incurred due to sending an additional safety vessel due to the action taken by Greenpeace. There were also delays and additional security measures were needed at the port. Furthermore, the companies involved would like to receive compensation for the legal costs they previously incurred. For Shell, the costs would amount to $2.1 million, according to the documents.

Greenpeace earlier on Thursday described the matter as an “intimidation suit.” According to the organization, the operation was completely peaceful. Greenpeace sees this case as “one of the biggest legal threats to our ability to take action” in the group’s history.

Shell confirms that the company respects the right to demonstrate “provided that this is done in a safe and legal manner.” The oil and gas company refers to a previous ruling by a British judge, which ruled that the procedure poses a danger to the activists themselves and also indirectly to the ship’s crew. The company believes that it, along with its partners, “is entitled to recover the significant costs it incurred in response to the dangerous work undertaken by Greenpeace.”

Greenpeace UK and Greenpeace International have told Shell they are prepared to stop these types of actions if the oil producer stops “destroying” the climate. They are also demanding that Shell comply with a Dutch court order requiring the company to reduce its emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2019.