How Greenpeace Works

Our investigations expose environmental crimes and the people, companies and governments that need to be held responsible. Working together, we can stop the destruction of the environment using peaceful direct action.

Greenpeace Defends Independence of Environment Groups in Australia. © James Alcock / Greenpeace
Greenpeace investigators collecting samples © Christian Åslund / Greenpeace
Greenpeace investigators collecting samples © Christian Åslund / Greenpeace

Investigate

We believe in the public’s right to know about what’s happening to our planet.

Our investigations expose environmental crimes and the people, companies and governments that need to be held responsible.

We’ve exposed illegal fishing and human rights violations at sea, illegal timber trading across the globe, and tracked how dirty energy money in politics affects the policies around climate change.

Before we solve an environmental problem, we need to know how it works, and we’re committed to figuring that out. We work with experts, scientists and researchers across the globe to build a deep understanding of the problem, and we push for transparency from our government and corporations.

We provide detailed investigations into global corporations to see which companies are part of positive change, and which ones are holding us back.

Our research team uses tools like the Freedom of Information Act to hold the government accountable for its actions. Then we provide that information to our members and the public so we all have the facts to make informed decisions.

Greenpeace scientist taking oil samples from a waterway in Hobart, Australia.
Have a tip-off?

If you have a tip-off for our Investigations Unit, please email [email protected], or alternatively, if you would prefer it to be a phone conversation only, use Signal to message 0481 303 815 to arrange a phone discussion with one of our investigators.

Get in touch

Connect

Each one of us can make small changes in our lives, and when we work together we can change the world.

Greenpeace connects people from all over the globe; We bring together diverse perspectives, and help communities and individuals to come together to work toward a just and healthy planet.

Greenpeace isn’t just our staff, and it isn’t just our crew – Greenpeace is all of us who are working together for a green and peaceful future. 

We have active social media platforms, mobilisers who work with volunteers, and an actions team that supports individuals who want to stand up for their beliefs. We organise training and skill shares; bring people together for meetings, rallies and marches; and engage all different kinds of people who are impacted by environmental issues.

Greenpeace is committed to working together with other environmental groups, impacted communities, and groups and individuals working for social justice, because fair and just treatment of people is intrinsically connected to a healthy planet.

Protestors at the #FREETHEARCTIC30 beach protest
Projection on a condensing tower at a coal-fired power station depicting the people affected by climate change and the caption “No Future in Fossil Fuels” © Daniel Müller / Greenpeace
Projection on a condensing tower at a coal-fired power station depicting the people affected by climate change and the caption “No Future in Fossil Fuels” © Daniel Müller / Greenpeace

Act

Taking action can look different depending on each campaign strategy. Our crew asks big businesses to go renewable. They climb dirty gas platforms at sea to raise awareness about destructive fossil fuels and climate change. They share petitions and social media posts with their family and friends. They march in rallies, write letters to politicians to demand stronger environmental policies.

We stand together with our planet and know that what we do, big or small, can really make a difference.

Shifting the Narrative

Stories help us decide which futures are possible and how those futures may be brought into being. If we pay attention to the stories that a culture holds dear, we discover its deep structure. We learn what is most important to people, what they value, and what they disregard.

At Greenpeace, we are not content with the stories that already exist. We have something more to say. We recognise which stories are circulating in our culture, and understand that they can be broken apart and rewritten. Greenpeace aims to show a part of the world others haven’t seen before or to help others see that world from an unfamiliar angle. When we expand our vision, we expand the range of what seems possible.

Greenpeace does this by rapidly injecting our side of the story into unfolding political events, calling out politicians with vested interests, elevating the voices of Pacific leaders at a global climate forum , celebrating progress, conducting deep analysis and investigation into media narratives, and by engaging in thought leadership.

Our spokespeople regularly appear in the media driving thousands of mentions per year in Australia and internationally. Greenpeace has a diverse group of commentators and spokespeople available for the media, covering topics such as climate change, extreme weather events like bushfires, the clean energy transition, renewable energy and fossil fuels.

Whales not Woodlands Sign in Gascoyne Marine Park, Western Australia. ©  / Greenpeace
Greenpeace volunteer holds a banner in 1000m deep water in Gascoyne Marine Park. Taken on a Greenpeace boat tour to document and bear witness to landscapes and marine life that may be affected by Woodside’s planned gas expansion project off Western Australia.
© / Greenpeace