Greenpeace’s Dutch Anti-SLAPP Case Against Oil Pipeline Giant Advances

Greenpeace International's lawsuit against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands is advancing after a Dutch court rejected the U.S. fossil fuel company's attempt to dismiss the case. The environmental group filed the lawsuit in November 2023, alleging that Energy Transfer's "Greenpeace is a criminal organization" campaign, which included a $345 million U.S. verdict against Greenpeace, constituted defamation and an attempt to silence environmental advocacy. The Dutch court's decision means the case will proceed to a full hearing on its merits. Greenpeace argues that Energy Transfer's actions, including the pursuit of the substantial U.S. judgment, are designed to intimidate and deter environmental activism, a practice often referred to as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). The organization contends that the $345 million verdict, obtained in a U.S. court, is an extraterritorial application of U.S. law intended to cripple Greenpeace's operations and free speech. The Dutch proceedings will examine whether Energy Transfer's campaign constitutes unlawful defamation and interference with Greenpeace's rights. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for environmental advocacy and the use of legal tactics to suppress dissent.