2016 | SPRING ISSUE
IMPACT REPORT
06 Your voice helps change the world | 10 Rainforests up in flames | 12 Illegally logging protected panda habitat | 14 Brands compelled to detox
outdoor gear | 16 Dress smart – don't over-consume | 18 Hong Kong steps up efforts on wildlife trafficking | 20 The Paris Climate Talks: what's
next? | 22 Uncovering China's contaminated corn
© Monica Løvdahl / Greenpeace
An era of engaged,
impassioned action
Dear Greenpeace supporters,
Greenpeace pushes for positive change this way – by
engaging people everywhere in collective strength.
Together we amplify our appeal for a better world, and
If you're like me, you may have noticed recently that people
everywhere are becoming more proactive in changing the
stand up against those that threaten our planet's health.
And it works.
world for the better. As our supporters, you're aware of
It's in everyone's interest that we keep encouraging people
global environmental issues and the power of collective
to act on their environmental sentiments. Because the more
action – Greenpeace itself was built upon this very notion.
people we engage, the greater our impact. For this we need
But it's going beyond that.
every one of you, and that's why your voice is so important
There's been a general wave of awareness, and interest in
protecting our planet. People are becoming more conscious
of the impact of their actions. They are informed, and they
care.
Greenpeace wants to make the most of this surge in global
to us. My sincerest thanks go out to the respondents of our
recent 'Big Listening' survey, the results of which can be
found on P6-9.
So read on, be inspired – and be a part of the new era of
engagement.
sentiment, and tell people about all about our investigations
and campaigns. Whether its our work promoting solar
energy in India, or research exposing companies that pollute
the countryside with outdoor gear containing hazardous
chemicals – we want everyone to know about it!
That's why Greenpeace East Asia is empowering its
engagement team with a bigger, more active role in
campaigns. To maximise efficiency, we are customising
strategies carefully.
Director of Fundraising and Engagement,
Greenpeace East Asia
02-03
Greenpeace's environmental work
relies entirely on the support of
people like YOU.
1%
9%
Defending our oceans
22% *Media outreach
4%
Protecting forests
2%
*Public outreach & education
6%
Food & agriculture
7%
*Actions & investigations
13% Eliminate toxic chemicals
18% Climate & energy
8%
Environmental campaign
coordination
1%
Global campaign projects
coordination
2
%
22%
7%
10%
8%
Campaign and
support expenditure
9%
10% * Policy initiatives, lobbying
businesses and scientific research
18%
*Supporting all environmental campaign projects.
Statistics from Jan-Dec 2015, exact figures pending
an official audit.
4%
13%
6%
Defending our oceans
Climate solutions
Vaquita win! A year ago we launched our vaquita
campaign, when few even knew this animal existed. A
couple of months later over 100,000 people demanded
the Hong Kong government abate the illegal totoaba fish
trade driving vaquitas to extinction. Last December two
seafood traders were prosecuted for this.
Rising up for renewables: On the eve of the UN climate
summit, we joined hands with other green groups and
masses of people around the world to express a united
message: that we care about the climate, and support
world leaders moving as fast as possible to 100%
renewable energy.
Eliminate toxic chemicals
Protecting forests
Toxin-free trekking: We sent 40 outdoor gear items to
an independent lab for testing and in January and found
that PFCs were in all but four! Outdoor lovers worldwide
signed a petition telling CEOs of major outdoor brands to
stop using these toxins, with Páramo becoming the first
to commit to Detox.
Victory for China's giant panda: In January 2016, the
Sichuan Forestry Bureau investigated illegal logging in
Giant Panda sanctuaries, after Greenpeace found that
3,200 acres were clear-cut to make way for plantations of
profitable timber.
Food & agriculture
© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace
Uprooting illegal GE corn: From May to December 2015,
Greenpeace investigated corn production in Liaoning
province and found that 93% of samples contained illegal
GE corn. Local governments investigated further, banned
illegal GE corn seed sales, and strengthened monitoring
for this spring's ploughing.
Cover Story
A small group of Black Howler monkeys in a tree at
Pantanal Wetlands in Brazil – the world's largest wetland
area south of the Amazon Rainforest.
01
Greenpeace
around the globe
02
03
© Greenpeace / Mark Warford
© Will Rose / MSF / Greenpeace
04
© Vicki Beaver / NSB
Together with you, our offices in over 55
countries around the world push for positive
change through action.
05
© Taekyong Jung / Greenpeace
04-05
01
Arctic Ocean
The Norwegian Arctic
2016 March
02
Aegean Sea
Greece
2015 November
03
Great Bear Rainforest
Canada
2016 February
04
Taichung
Taiwan
2015 December
05
Seoul Myeong-dong
South Korea
2016 Feburary
Under the Arctic sea ice lays a vibrant ecosystem, containing cold-water
corals, bowhead, beluga and narwhal whales, colourful sea butterflies, and
much more. The Arctic's been warming twice as fast as anywhere else in the
world, causing ice sheets to melt, recede and expose this fragile underwater
world. With oil companies and large-scale industrial fishing fleets moving in,
Greenpeace will do all it can to protect this beautiful ocean environment from
destructive fishing and drilling practices.
Greenpeace took part in a joint maritime rescue operation with Médecins
Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) around Lesbos, Greece,
from November to February. In these few months we provided rescue
services at sea to over 300 boatloads of refugees traversing the dangerous
gulf between Turkey and Greece, fleeing human rights violations and war in
their home countries. The team rescued more than 14,000 men, women and
children, ensuring their safe passage.
In 1997, Greenpeace took on its role as guardian of the Great Bear Rainforest
– threatened with logging and officially protected across just 5% of its 3.1
million hectares of old growth, temperate rainforest and pristine bear habitat.
Following our campaign, the public began boycotting products associated with
the deforestation, and join peaceful protests and lobbying efforts against it.
Now, after 20 years of effort, Greenpeace and a number of other NGOs and
indigenous groups have secured a long-term agreement with the government
to ban commercial logging in 85% of the territory.
Enormous billboards have been placed by Greenpeace around Taichung
City, Taiwan, urging the government to take action against air pollution and
undertake regular independent tests on companies and products suspected
to be contributing to the problem. This message comes in the wake of the
Volkswagen (VW) emissions test scandal, where the German automakers
fraudulently reported emissions rates. Exposed in September, the Taiwanese
government promised testing and recalls of VW cars which have yet to
materialise. Greenpeace is making sure this issue stays on top of people's
minds, and the government's agenda.
Outdoor clothing brands encourage and enable you to explore the
wilderness of our great planet – and they are also turning you into unwitting
contaminators of the very landscapes you visit and love. Greenpeace has
run a series of tests on outdoor items from big outdoor brands such as
Mammut and The North Face, discovering harmful – and unnecessary –
PCF chemicals in the fabric. During a five-day period in February, protests
at these stores were held in 20 countries as part of our 'Detox Outdoor'
campaign. In Seoul, Myeong-dong Street became a veritable catwalk for
information exposing the chemical contaminants in outdoor clothing.
Big Listening
Your voice helps change
the world
From survey to strategy
We made some enormous environmental breakthroughs in 2015,
and we need to keep this positive momentum going in order to tackle
the multi-faceted threats to our planet, such as climate change,
marine degradation, deforestation, and pollution.
The challenges are diverse, so it's vital our efforts are as effective as
possible. That's why we're turning to you – our valued supporters –
to find out how you think we can most efficiently focus our resources
to achieve our shared ultimate goal of a healthy, protected planet.
We’re going to think big, and listen big. Last year we distributed two
surveys inviting supporters in the East Asia region to reveal your
thoughts. We received over 15,000 responses and on the next few
pages you can find out what your collective voice had to say.
Equipped with this information, Greenpeace is able to refine our
long-term development strategy, and ensure that it makes a real,
tangible difference to the environment.
Our dedicated team is carefully analysing the survey data, and will
integrate the 10 most important themes into Greenpeace's 10-year
working guidelines, and the Greenpeace East Division 2017-2019
three-year plan. Watch as your voice helps change the world.
Thanks again for enabling us to exist, do what we do – and do it as
effectively as we can.
06-07
Campaign focus
Q
What are the biggest threats to our planet?
01
04
05
Increasingly
destructive and
unpredictable
weather patterns
03
Our response
10
Animals and plants
going extinct
Toxic chemicals
in our everyday
products
08
Pollution in
our oceans and
waterways
06
Melting polar
ice caps
Q
07
Politicians and
companies that put
profit above people
and the planet
Air pollution
02
Top 10 results ⇩
Increasing war and
conflict
09
Forests being
destroyed
Unsafe food
production
The top three items you selected are all inextricably linked to climate change. Currently, Greenpeace
East Asia devotes the largest chunk of its resources to the Climate and Energy campaign, about 40%.
However, only 10% of you selected 'the use of coal and fossil fuels' as a major concern, indicating that we
need to more effectively communicate how relevant and vital this issue still is to global climate change.
What Greenpeace campaigns are you most likely to join?
Result from supporters in Hong Kong ⇩
1st
Those that reduce plastic pollution in our oceans
5th
Those that urge corporates to stop illegal and
destructive fishing, and keep oceans healthy
2nd
Those that protect the world’s ancient forests,
(such as the Amazon) by demanding companies
stop forest destruction
6th
Those that save natural forests in China by
demanding companies stop forest destruction
3rd
Those that encourage people to consume less,
recycle, and reuse old products
7th
Those that encourage developers in Hong Kong to
put greater consideration toward energy efficiency
4th
Those that make food and agricultural production
safe for us and the environment
8th
Those that push IT companies to become greener
so gadgets and smart phones do not contain
harmful materials, and consume less resources
Our response
These results demonstrate that Greenpeace East Asia is on the right track with its campaigns to tackle
marine pollution and overconsumption, and guard the world's last remaining virgin forests. Soon you will
see more of this type of activity, focussed on ending forest destruction and reducing marine debris as well.
Big Listening
Making the biggest impact
Q
What’s getting better?
75%
59%
Science &
Technology
Our response
Q
Supporters chose up to 3 items below ⇩
Citizen
Solutions
48%
47%
Corporate Social
Responsibility
New Economic
Models
20%
Policies and Legal
Systems
As technology advances, polluting industries no longer have excuses behind which to hide.
Environmentally friendly modes of production will become the norm, and Greenpeace is committed
to making the transition as fast and comprehensive as possible. When asked what you would like to
see Greenpeace focussing on in the coming 3-5 years, ‘changing government policies’ and ‘changing
corporate behaviour’ were the top two categories, which is in keeping with our dedication to do just
that. The survey answers showcase our supporters’ faith in Greenpeace’s ability to influence these
issues, and improve our collective environmental outlook.
Where do you think the power to change the world lies?
Supporters chose up to 5 items below ⇩
1st
Getting more people to become involved in
protecting the environment
5th
Campaigning against companies that pollute
the environment
2nd
Researching, investigating and exposing
environmental destruction
6th
Using nonviolent direct action to stop
environmentally destructive behaviour
3rd
Using legal systems to stop activity that
damages the environment
7th
Lobbying politicians to work towards
environmental protection
4th
Promoting alternative solutions to
environmental problems
8th
Working with other organisations (e.g. charities,
religious groups) to create change
Our response
This is very encouraging to see, since ‘strengthening public power’ is the cornerstone of Greenpeace
operations. We’ve seen time and time again that harnessing this power is an unbeatable vehicle
of positive change. In the near future, you’ll see Greenpeace East Asia’s engagement team grow
with exactly this intention. Alongside this, efforts to lobby governments, hold polluting companies
accountable, and expose environmental destruction will of course continue. We at Greenpeace are
committed to this multi-pronged approach, and have a steadfast belief in its potential.
08-09
Supporter involvement
Q
What does the ‘Greenpeace Experience’ mean to you?
1st
Taking part in campaigns on the ground
4th
Joining millions of others in online action
2nd
Being aware of the latest environmental news
5th
Donating to fund work for a better world
3rd
Feeling like part of a movement of millions
across the globe
6th
Volunteering
Our response
Q
Our supporters are, without a doubt, part of an informed and engaged global environmental movement.
We strive to keep you up-to-date on current environmental threats, and enable you to be personally
involved in solutions to the issues that matter most to you. In the future Greenpeace will strengthen
interactive communications, so that even more supporters can participate directly in activities or
events. We’ll continue to keep you posted through e-newsletter and our Facebook page.
If we created a time capsule to be opened in 10 years, what message would you want to put in it?
Ask if they can still see birds in the blue sky or
Put samples of plants, insects and sea creatures
green trees with blossoms
which may be extinct in 10 years inside
Apologise for our ignorant actions, and for causing
Put in a message of hope, such as “Love and protect
such problems for future generations
this planet, it’s our only one”
Ask if there are still toxic materials being used in
Put in an advisory message, such as “I wish
every aspect of humans’ daily lives, and if unsafe
everyone would change their lifestyle just a little bit
economic practices persist, unobstructed by law
in order to reduce waste”
Our response
It’s wonderful to see such passion in these answers. We need to keep inspiring each other to
do everything we can to realise our dream of a planet protected from destruction and greed. At
Greenpeace we are working toward that aim, every day – so that in 10 years time we can look back at
our achievements with pride.
Protecting Forests
© Ardiles Rante / Greenpeace
Rainforests up in flames
Both the Amazonian indigenous lands and the
rainforests of Indonesia suffered unprecedented
fire damage last year. Sadly, the cause of this
unfathomable ecological loss is entirely man-made –
by illegal loggers and commercial plantation owners,
respectively. That’s why Greenpeace focuses on them:
the perpetrators of the infernos.
Fires ravaging indigenous lands
Walled in by wildfire
There were over 4,000 fires ablaze in Brazil’s Indigenous
Lands of Maranhão in early December, according to the
country’s National Institute for Space Research, INPE –
and the government had yet to send more than 45 fire
fighters to help abate the burning. Instead, the isolated
communities were left to protect their forest alone, with
little equipment and their babies on their backs.
Large groups of indigenous people spend days on end
trying to stop flames advancing on their homes, trees and
animals, instead of hunting and gathering food to survive.
The numerous fires have also damaged, or physically
prevent them from reaching, the nutrient-rich areas of
their land. This, sadly, has added widespread hunger to
their woe.
10-11
The 15-year fire
Burn victims
The rainforest in Indonesia has been on fire for 15 years.
In that time, 31 million hectares – an area the size of
Germany – of this ecologically invaluable landscape
has been burned and cleared by commercial plantation
owners and pulp and paper companies to make room for
expansion. A certain extent of burning is natural to this
region, but since the companies moved in canals have
been created to drain moisture from damp peatlands,
and last year’s unusually strong El Niño current caused
the fires to blaze out of control.
The people, the environment, the economy – the
list of sufferers goes on. Countless orangutans and
other endangered species have lost their habitat. The
Indonesian government has lost over US$10 billion.
And half a million people have fallen ill from smoke
inhalation. To top this off, the gargantuan fires have
emitted tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, in
November producing more emissions per day than the
US economy. This blaze is a stain our collective human
conscience, and none of us will emerge unscathed.
INSIGHTS
Fighting fire
with fire
Direct action: NGOs including Greenpeace and local communities
in Paduran Village, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, decided to take
matters into their own hands. For a fortnight in late November, we
built a dam to block a peatland drainage canal, restore moisture to
the land, and prevent further fires. Amazon villagers are also working
defiantly to quell the man-made blazes on their land.
Lobbying governments: At the UN climate talks in Paris, Greenpeace
delivered a petition with 250,000 signatures to Indonesia’s President
Joko Widodo calling for complete forest and peatland protection. A
massive 1.4 million Brazilians put their name to a petition calling for
zero deforestation in the Amazon, which was presented to the Brazilian
Congress in October. These actions keep the issue at the forefront of
the agenda, and encourage governments to stop granting licences to
exploit forests.
Pressuring companies: We continue to use people pressure to get
companies to stop doing business with those that commit forest crimes.
Greenpeace regularly requests that concession maps in Indonesia be
made public, so the culprits can be identified and targeted.
Protecting Forests
© Fuse / Thinkstock
Illegally logging protected
panda habitat
Exposing deforestation
Our two-year investigation used remote sensing, field
surveys and spatial analysis to detect and record the
clearcutting that was going on in the UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Research covered the Fengtongzhai
National Nature Reserve in Ya’an, which is one of the
world’s most botanically rich areas, and contains red
panda, snow leopard, clouded leopard, and a vital
migratory corridor for giant pandas.
The conservation value of the region cannot be
overstated. Over 5,000 different species of flora are found
here, and it sustains the world’s largest population of
wild pandas. Now vast areas of barren land interrupt the
habitual migration and mating rituals of these enigmatic,
endangered animals.
Pristine panda habitat in southwest China is being
systematically cleared for cultivation, a Greenpeace
East Asia investigation revealed in October. Almost
3,200 acres of natural forest – the equivalent of
1,814 football pitches – in the Sichuan Giant Panda
Sanctuaries have been felled since 2009.
12-13
Logger’s loophole
Regulations against felling natural forests for profit were
introduced in China in 1998, and strengthened in 2012.
But they remain inadequate. Greenpeace uncovered a
specific loophole that enables loggers, and authorities,
to circumvent logging restrictions. It allows ‘low yield’
forest to be replaced with plantations under the guise of
‘forest regeneration’ – something that’s happening time
and time again, all across the country.
No forest is safe
Previous Greenpeace investigations revealed rampant
deforestation in protected areas in Yunnan and Zhejiang
provinces – some of China’s most wildlife-rich and
biodiverse regions – under the same ‘low yield forest
regeneration’ loophole. If this legal irregularity remains
unchecked, a third of China’s natural forest will be at risk
of exploitation.
INSIGHTS
Swift government
action creates hope
going forward
When the report exposing deforestation in Sichuan’s panda sanctuary
was released, it captivated international media and embarrassed
the government. It triggered an immediate reaction, with the State
Forestry Administration ordering the Sichuan Forestry Bureau to
conduct further investigation – upon which they found the Greenpeace
data to be correct; there was additional, fresh deforestation.
An official letter soon arrived at Greenpeace East Asia offices. It
was from the Sichuan Forestry Bureau, detailing that they would
punish those involved in the illegal logging, conduct 15 criminal and
8 administrative cases, and hold 22 officials accountable for the
ecologically irresponsible activity.
The Sichuan Forestry Bureau also stated it would carry out
surveillance in key forest areas, and that it was committed to issuing
a provincial regulation on restricting ‘low yield forest reconstruction’.
This brings Greenpeace campaigners one step closer to the ultimate
goal – closing this loophole China-wide.
Eliminate toxic chemicals
Brands compelled to detox
outdoor gear
Brands rely on us to buy, use and endorse their
products. If we don’t, they don’t survive. We can use
these market forces to influence their conduct – just
as Greenpeace is doing with the DETOX My Fashion
campaign. Now public pressure is demanding that
outdoor brands, found to be polluting the environment
with hazardous chemicals, also commit to detox.
Testing, testing
Leading the race
Following the success of the DETOX My Fashion
campaign, last year Greenpeace decided to broaden the
scope of this effort. We asked you to identify 40 outdoor
items (jackets, tents, shoes etc.), and over 30,000 votes
came in covering a range of different brands. The
products were sent to an independent laboratory, and all
but four were found to contain per- and poly-fluorinated
chemicals (PFCs) – the environment’s ‘invisible enemy’.
These hazardous chemicals have been detected
everywhere – from snow in remote areas around the
world to reservoirs in Hong Kong.
Armed with this information, Greenpeace has been
lobbying major outdoor brands to phase out PFCs from
production processes and products – and help protect
the environment their customers so enjoy to explore.
This pressure shows signs of working. In January 2016
at the Sporting Goods Show in Munich, Germany, the
British brand Páramo announced a complete phase-out
of toxic chemicals in its supply chain. This demonstrates
real leadership in an industry that is currently turning its
nature-loving clients into unwitting polluters.
14-15
PCFs not essential
Hypocrisy woven into their fabric
Resource constraints prevent us from targeting all the
outdoor brands to detoxify, so we decided to focus our
efforts on the two most popular in our public poll: The
North Face and Mammut. A petition urging these brands
to eliminate PFCs from their products had over 190,000
signatures at the time of press, and counting!
Greenpeace’s DETOX My Fashion campaign has always
focused on pushing brands that create clothing – be
it fast fashion, for kids, or luxury style – to eliminate
hazardous chemicals from their textiles and processes to
help create a toxin-free future for the planet. So far over
30 brands have joined the movement.
However, corporate responsibility certainly does not
end here. It’s inexcusable to put poison pollutants in
products designed to enable people to explore nature.
It’s dishonest to market PFCs-ridden products with
images of the pristine landscapes they contaminate. And
it’s wrong to make nature-loving customers unknowing
accomplices in this hypocrisy. Outdoor brands have a
responsibility to cultivate a truly positive brand image,
and reject PFCs and other harmful chemicals.
PFCs were found in 90% of the products we tested.
Some brands have rebutted our campaign efforts by
claiming that removing PFCs would compromise the
water- and wind-proof aspects of the outdoor gear.
We decided to challenge this, and proposed a ‘road
test’ of PFC-free outdoor equipment by professional
mountaineer David Bacci on his next expedition. Lo and
behold, he scaled Fitz Roy, one of the most dangerous
mountain faces in Patagonia, entirely without PFCs. “I
was extremely satisfied with my PFCs-free clothing; it
was keeping me warm and dry, even in these extreme
conditions,” he said.
In East Asia, meanwhile, three outdoor key opinion
leaders, Icey Tsui from Taiwan, A.M. from Hong Kong,
and Deng Lin from Mainland China, embarked on an
adventure to climb Mount Siguniang (Four Sisters
Mountain) in Sichuan, China, on January 22 – all with
PFC-free waterproof clothing. Despite the strong
cold current that had dropped to -20 °C during their
climb, they successfully accomplished their mission to
reach the summit, proving that PFCs-free clothes can
withstand the challenges of extremely cold weather at
5,000 metres.
Are PFC-free alternatives more expensive?
According to statements from the industry, these
products are similarly priced. The cost of chemicals in a
finished product makes up only 2-4% of the price.
Eliminate toxic chemicals
Dress smart –
don’t over-consume
The fashion industry is designed to make us crave
more clothes. Each season new styles debut, entice,
and trap us in an endless spending cycle. Such
overconsumption has led to 1,400 clothes being tossed
in Hong Kong’s landfills every minute.
© Greenpeace / Patrick Cho
Alarming levels of waste
Hong Kong’s wastefulness
Over the last 5 years fast fashion has really taken off in
Hong Kong. Retail sales are through the roof, and as
are landfill waste levels. Greenpeace found the 110,000
tonnes of textiles are discarded in this city every year;
that’s enough to fill 25,000 Hong Kong Stadiums.
More recycling required
1,400 T-shirts
When items fall out of fashion, they get thrown in the bin.
Regrettably, recycling rates for unwanted clothes has
declined, from 12% in 2011 to just 3.9% in 2014 – a third
of rates seen in Japan and Western countries.
In 2014, we discarded 110,000 tonnes of textiles,
equivalent to about 1,400 T-shirts every minute!
Ineffective initiatives seem to be behind the abysmal
recycling rates. The ‘Community Used Clothes Recycling
Bank' community participation scheme, for example, had
the government purchasing recycling bins, and collection
left to four NGOs. Inadequate policies like this, coupled
with decreasing demand for second-hand clothes from
Mainland China, has led to today’s unfortunate escalating
waste situation.
16-17
Toxic truth behind fast fashion
The issue of clothing waste has many mini-solutions
including recycling, upcycling, and donation. However
the thread that is woven throughout this issue is
overconsumption. This level of wasteful consumption
is ultimately a heavy burden on the environment.
Overconsumption is fueled by consumer demand and
met all too enthusiastically by the fast fashion industry.
The term ‘fast fashion’ refers to items that are produced
at a rapid, mass scale – usually in 7 to 30 days. Many
cost- and time-saving measures are employed in the
printing and dyeing processes to keep up this pace. Over
3,000 hazardous chemicals are used, and as a result
the textiles take around 200 years to decompose. When
dumped the toxins these clothes are laden with seeps
into the soil, ground water and ocean – wreaking untold
havoc on the environment, its animals and humans.
Stand out from the crowd
The power is in your hands – by making conscious choices
you can mitigate the ecologically devastating effects of
fast fashion. Some tips to fight overconsumption include:
Buy vintage! Visit flea markets and thrift shops to
discover unique, second-hand style.
Extend the lifespan of clothes by studying the label
and washing / keeping them properly.
If you don’t wear it, share it! Exchange clothes with
your friends through fun swapping sessions.
Do not succumb to fleeting trends; only buy what
you need.
Give old items new life; learn how to repair clothes.
Tidy up your wardrobe to find hidden treasures, and
stifle any compulsions for excessive consumption.
INSIGHTS
Fashion forward
Greenpeace’s DETOX my Fashion has already enlisted over 30 major
brands to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their production
processes. In addition, we are encouraging brands to attach eco-labels
to their clothes detailing the origin of the textiles and materials used.
But as consumers we also have a role to play. It’s vital that we ‘vote with
our wallet’ and invest in timeless, quality clothes that are responsibly
made – instead of purchasing piles of cheap, temporary items.
Defending the Oceans
Hong Kong steps up efforts
on wildlife trafficking
Human greed is pushing many rare species to
extinction. Greenpeace supporters have been urging
governments to combat the illegal smuggling of
endangered wildlife before it’s too late. With your
support, in December, authorities in Hong Kong – a
renowned hub for wildlife trade – made their first-ever
prosecution on wildlife crime: of two traders found to
be in possesion of dried bladders from the protected
totoaba fish.
© Clement Tang Wai Kin / Greenpeace
Linking dried seafood to a porpoise in Mexico
The people versus illegal traders
Mexico's Gulf of California is home to two critically
endangered species: the totaba and vaquita, a fish and
porpoise, respectively. Recently there’s been a dramatic
decline in vaquita populations – the latest estimates
pegged at just 57 individuals. Many perish unnecessarily
by becoming entangled and drowning in nets intended for
totoaba. Fishing for this rare, large fish has intensified of
late, due to a rise in demand for their bladders – prized in
China as a health tonic.
After Greenpeace investigations revealed black market
totoaba bladders for sale in dried seafood shops in Hong
Kong, the government conducted checks and made its
first arrest and prosecution relating to Section 10 of
the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and
Plants Ordinance. The 14 totoaba bladders seized had a
market value of HK$550,000, and the two culprits were
fined a total of HK$120,000. The judge reiterated that
trading endangered species is a serious crime, and that
next time punishments will be severe – sending a strong
message to other would-be traders in the city.
Greenpeace and our supporters have raised a chorus
of voices in objection to this tragic, urgent, and illegal
situation. After many petitions and other efforts, we
managed to secure protection for their habitat, and
engage the Mexican government in enforcement. Last
year, China and the US also pledged to strengthen
cooperation in combatting the illegal trade.
18-19
Hong Kong a hotspot
Wildlife Crime: Is Hong Kong doing enough?
Endangered species trade in Hong Kong encompasses
many species, including elephant ivory, live reef fish,
pangolin scales and more. So Greenpeace and a group of
NGOs presented the government with a 50-page position
paper entitled ‘Wildlife Crime: Is Hong Kong Doing
Enough?’
The government responded, acknowledging that they
have seen a gradual increase in wildlife smuggling
to the extreme levels witnessed today. As a result,
councilors unanimously passed a motion to step up
efforts on wildlife crime, and during the policy address
on January 13, Hong Kong Chief Executive Chun Ying
Leung announced that there will be a “total ban” on
the domestic ivory trade. Though the policy is lacking
in details such as timelines for implementation, it
constitutes a clear step in the correct direction.
Keeping up the momentum
Momentum is growing and Hong Kong is taking steps to
wipe out illegal wildlife trafficking. We believe that the
Hong Kong Government could and should be a leader in
combatting wildlife crime not just regionally, but globally.
Greenpeace now urges the government to work closely
with international bodies to increase intelligence and
expand investigations into wildlife crime, as well as
improve front-line staff, law enforcement and judicial
units’ capacity to tackle it.
INSIGHTS
An end to needless,
man-made extinction
Hong Kong is a major global trafficking hub
↑ by 350%
HK$ 117 million
Number of Cases
2010 to 2014
Value of Seizures
2010 to 2014
33 tonnes
US$ 7-23 billion
Seizure of ivory
over last decade
Annual value of the illegal
wildlife trade globally
Greenpeace and a group of NGOs are calling
for the Hong Kong government to:
Increase
maximum
sentencing
for wildlife
crimes
Ban the
domestic ivory
trade
Actively
participate
in the global
response to
wildlife crime
Assign
additional
resources to
combating
wildlife crime
Create an
accessible and
transparent
Wildlife Crime
Database
Invest forensic
capability
to aid in
wildlife crime
investigations
Earth’s ecology is incredibly fragile, and when hundreds of species
begin disappearing due to another species’ reckless actions we need to
reevaluate our priorities. Is our vanity worth more than Earth’s ecological
heritage? Are scientifically unproven medicinal traditions appropriate
when they cause mass extinctions?
With vaquitas now numbering as few as 57, the genepool is becoming
dangerously narrow for a healthy repopulation effort. We need to act now
and really push Hong Kong and other governments to strictly implement
conservation policies – before this and other precious species integral to
our ecosystem, tragically and unnecessarily disappear from our planet.
Climate Solutions
The Paris Climate Talks:
what’s next?
Talk the talk, walk the walk
The Paris Climate Agreement produced some ambitious
goals, most notably setting the global temperature rise
limit at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Sadly, the actual terms set
out in the agreement do not reflect an equal measure of
gusto for making those goals a reality. Without continued
monitoring and review, current carbon emissions
reduction strategies will see our globe warm by up to 3
degrees – a dangerous level. So we at Greenpeace must
push governments to not just live up to, but exceed, their
clean energy goals.
Fossil fuels fall out of favour
Coal is the dirtiest of all the fossils fuels, depleting water
resources, severely polluting the environment, and
affecting public health. Coal is also the single biggest
source of climate-changing pollution. Fortunately there are
Last year was the hottest since records began, and
2016 has already seen its fair share of extreme
weather. There’s no doubt freak weather patterns
have increased in both intensity, and frequency, since
the industrial era. And unless global leaders commit
to fully implementing – and extending – the Paris
Climate Agreement, it’s only going to get worse.
signs that divestment from coal is forging ahead. In 2016,
both China and the USA made impressive progress in this
area, with the former announcing plans to close 1,000 coal
mines and halt approvals for new ones for three years.
President Obama, meanwhile, effectively froze all federal
coal leases in the State of the Union Address earlier this
year, and officials announced plans to phase out all coalfired power plants in New York State by 2020.
These efforts from the world’s two largest coal
consumers will ensure that tens of billions of dollars
worth of coal stays in the ground instead of producing
emissions that contribute to an unstable climate.
With support from Greenpeace, India is developing a
strong solar power sector, and we intend to encourage
more clean energy actions complimentary to a stable
climate.
20-21
Companies clean up their act
China’s 10 Most Polluted Provinces
With clean energy emerging as a winning investment, and
becoming cheaper by the day, many major companies
are also opting to go carbon-free. Greenpeace has been
calling on internet companies, in particular, to commit
to becoming 100% powered by renewables. And we have
brought many famous tech companies including Google,
Apple, and Facebook on board.
Picking up the pace
So, the Paris Climate Talks took targets to a new level,
and the world seems to be heading down a path to a
future powered by renewables. At such a vital time, we
must not get complacent. We have to – now more than
ever – ensure that the interests of big business do not
stand in the way of carbon cutting progress. We must
champion the adoption of renewable energy in every
country, industry and household. Only by doing so will we
meet, and exceed, the Paris Climate Talk targets.
INSIGHTS
China’s air quality is
improving
Ranking
2015 Average concentration of PM2.5 (35 µg/m3)
01
Henan
80.7
02
Beijing
80.4
03
Hebei
04
Tianjin
05
Shandong
66.4
06
Hubei
65.9
07
Jiangsu
56.6
08
Shanxi
56.4
09
Anhui
55.1
10
Chongqing
55.0
77.3
71.5
China is already breaking free from its coal addiction, but for some of its
smog-choked cities, the change isn't happening fast enough. To round the
year off, Greenpeace have once again mined the data to find out what’s
really going on.
In January 2016, we released our PM2.5 city rankings for 2015, including
366 Chinese cities. Average PM2.5 concentration dropped by 10%
nationwide compared to 2014 levels, which is a significant improvement
and part of a positive trend. However, 80% of cities had average annual
PM2.5 air pollution concentrations over the national standard.
Food & agriculture
Uncovering China’s
contaminated corn
Liaoning Province, in Northeast China, is one of the
country’s major breadbaskets; and it’s overflowing
with illegal, genetically engineered (GE) corn.
Greenpeace conducted tests in the region last year,
with results showing 90% of corn samples were GE
varieties outlawed in China. Not only is this activity
illegal, it also threatens ecosystems and the survival
of natural corn strains.
© Ma Longlong / Greenpeace
Unearthing the culprits
From May to December 2015, corn samples were taken
from five different counties in Liaoning Province. Tests
covered the entire commercial chain – supply, production
and distribution – including agricultural seed suppliers,
fields, grain silos, markets and supermarkets. All
contained high levels of GE contamination.
The GE corn strains in question were patents from
international companies Monsanto, Syngenta, Du Pont
Pioneer and Dow Chemical. Only DuPont Pioneer has
responded to the report, saying to Reuters that it does
not sell ‘biotech’ seeds in China, and could not speculate
on the origin of the unauthorised crops.
Breaking the law
China’s regulations ban the commercial production of GE
corn, and mandate that all products containing imported
GE crops must be labeled as such. So the situation in
Liaoning constitutes flagrant disregard for the law at
a significant scale, and it’s unlikely the test areas are
isolated incidences. The same could be happening in field
after field across China.
Greenpeace points to extremely lax and disorganised
seed market management as the reason this illegal and
ecologically harmful activity has developed unabated.
22-23
Why are GE crops bad?
■ It’s unnatural. Genetically engineered seeds
are just that – fabricated in a lab to contain certain
characteristics. This alters ecosystems, and can lead to
monoculture and monopoly in the agricultural landscape.
■ In this particular instance, it’s illegal. Simple as that.
■ It puts farmers, and food security, at risk. If farmers
have no choice but to pay for seed patents, this in turn
could affect production, and the availability of food.
■ It denies our right to freedom of choice. Consumers
should know what products contain, and be able to
purchase organic, wild varieties if they so wish.
INSIGHTS
Crackdown on
GE crops
Greenpeace East Asia’s report exposes the inability of the Chinese
government to supervise GE crop production. Over 20 global and local
media covered the report, which prompted the government to take action.
The Liaoning Department of Agriculture has immediately responded and
said it will carry out an investigation in the area, and disclose results to
the public. On January 28, the Ministry of Agriculture released its GE Bio
Safety Regulation Plan 2016, in which the Ministry emphasised that high
pressure should be maintained on GE crop management (especially for
GE rice and corn), and any illegal GE crop experiments, breeding, selling
and cultivation will be strictly punished.
With your help, we will monitor progress and keep the pressure on, and
work to safeguard our rich, diverse and sustainable natural ecosystems.
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