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Below are Greenpeace China's key achievements in China since it opened its Hong Kong office in 1997.
2008
General
Greenpeace released China after the Olympics: Lessons from Beijing report, an assessment of the city's environmental performance in preparing for the Games which was widely covered by the world's media. The report's recommendations were picked up the International Olympic Committee.
Greenpeace staff rushed to Sichuan soon after the earthquake and to save further loss of life marked out danger areas around damaged chemical plants.They helped block off 99 dangerous plants preventing at least five further disasters.
In Hong Kong, Greenpeace members stopped toxic e-waste being unloaded from a container ship bound for mainland China and pressured the Environmental Protection Department to tighten their inspections.
Toxics
Through Greenpeace’s strenuous lobbying, Shenyang city in the northeast of China ratified a regulation on environmental information disclosure (EID) which opened up information on industrial water and air pollution to the public. This is the first EID regulation ratified by a local environmental protection bureau in China.
Forests
After we held book fairs in Hong Kong and the mainland promoting the use of forest friendly paper in the publishing industry at least a dozen Hong Kong authors pledged to use forest friendly paper for their new titles.
Climate
The Chinese government said it would look into coal pricing reform after Greenpeace released The True Cost of Coal report. The document outlines the huge environmental, social and economic loss to China of using coal and urged for a price reform to reflect that.
Greenpeace and several top agronomists open the debate on food security and climate change with its Climate Change and Food Security in China report warning that climate change threatens China's food security and strongly urges eco-farming as a better option to cope with climate change.
Food and Agriculture
Through Greenpeace investigations we stopped an illegal plan to eventually commercialise a strain of GE rice by passing it off as a hybrid variety. As a direct result of this, the Ministry of Agriculture agreed to first test all new varieties of rice, corn and soy, to see if they are GE strains.
Because of Greenpeace campaigns that showed GE crops currently under testing contain so many foreign patents that to commercialise them will threaten China's food security and food sovereignty, the Chinese government again delayed approving any commercial strains of GE rice in China.
2007
China’s largest home furnishing retailer B&Q pledged that all wood products they sell in China will come from certified legal and responsibly managed forests by 2010.
Greenpeace released findings from three expeditions to Mt. Everest and other regions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, which show a dramatic level of glacier retreat due to global warming.
The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR passed a motion to tighten control over food pesticide residues after months of lobbying by Greenpeace. The Hong Kong SAR Government pledged to give priority to the regulation of pesticide residues in the upcoming Food Safety Law.
The State Environmental Protection Administration of China stated that it will implement rigorous control over the dumping of harmful waste in China. The problem caught official and public attention after Greenpeace leaked information to the UK media.
2006
Testing by Greenpeace found Heinz’s baby food products to contain ingredients made from illegal, untested GE rice—the latest scandal uncovered in a two-year long campaign to stop the commercialization of GE rice in China, which has put the issue under public spotlight.
After year-long research and investigation, Greenpeace released a report exposing China’s role in the trade of illegal timber from the Paradise Forests. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China will join international efforts to tackle illegal logging and timber trade, and importers of Chinese timber products in Europe committed themselves to stop buying products made with illegally logged species from the Paradise Forests.
Supermarkets in Hong Kong and Guangzhou agreed to tighten control over pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits after Greenpeace discovered illegal pesticide use and high levels of pesticide residues. The Hong Kong SAR Government reacted by pledging to tighten control over imported fruits and vegetables.
Greenpeace’s three-year long campaign has succeeded in greening the computer industry. The global computer giants – Dell, Acer and Lenovo – have all pledged to phase out the most toxic materials in their products. The three companies represent 30% of the global computer market.
2005
The National People’s Congress passed a renewable energy law to encourage the development of renewable energy in China. Greenpeace was the only non-governmental organization to have been invited to comment on an early draft of the law.
Greenpeace was recognized for its environmental protection efforts in China as two influential printed media in China, Southern Weekend and Nanfengchuan, named Greenpeace a Non-Governmental Organization of the Year.
Greenpeace researchers and Chinese scientists revealed in a report that the source of the Yellow River is under threat by climate change. The report received widespread media coverage inside and outside China.
Greenpeace launched Wind Force 12 in China, the first-ever report to outline the development blueprint of wind energy in China.
Greenpeace’s flagship Rainbow Warrior visited Hong Kong to promote the clean energy revolution. Sarah Liao, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works of the Hong Kong SAR, joined nine other “Wind Ambassadors” to call for wind energy development in Hong Kong.
Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), one of the world’s largest paper manufacturers, finally vowed to abide by Chinese regulations after being criticized by Greenpeace and the Chinese Government for its illegal logging and forest clearing practices in Yunnan and Hainan provinces.
The Hong Kong SAR Government revised the relevant regulation after Greenpeace exposed Hong Kong’s role as a key entry point to China for hazardous electronic wastes from developed countries.
Greenpeace launched the Shoppers Guide to Avoiding GE Food in mainland China and Hong Kong. In mainland China, Coca Cola, Pepsi and Danone joined the ranks of other non-GE brands, and 156 food brands committed to a non-GE policy in Hong Kong.
Testing by Greenpeace found Kraft’s food products to contain GE ingredients. After five months’ discussion, Kraft, the world’s second largest food producer, pledged to supply only non-GE food in China.
Greenpeace urged the Hong Kong SAR Government to review its outdated air quality standard; Greenpeace also launched the online Greenpeace Air Pollution Index, which is based on standards set by the World Health Organization and the European Union.
The Ministry of Agriculture took action to destroy illegal GE rice, following repeated investigations by Greenpeace which found untested and unapproved GE rice was being grown in Hubei Province and had already contaminated the rice market inside and outside the province.
2004
Following Greenpeace’s campaigning efforts, the China Light and Power Group pledged that 5% of its power generation capacity will come from renewable energy by 2010.
The Zhejiang Hotels Association urged its 300 member hotels to boycott the paper products of Asia Pulp & Paper, after the paper giant was found by Greenpeace to be involved in illegal logging and forest clearing in Yunnan Province. Greenpeace’s findings were confirmed by the State Forestry Administration’s official investigation.
2003
A young mother in Shanghai filed a court case against Nestle after learning that its products contained GE ingredients thanks to Greenpeace-commissioned testing. With Greenpeace’s support, she visited Nestle’s headquarters in Switzerland to demand that the right of Chinese consumers be respected.
2002
Over 100 young students and children unfolded a huge banner on the Great Wall, urging China and other countries to protect the world’s remaining ancient forests.
Greenpeace opposed U.S. company Monsanto’s patent application for a wild soybean variety from China. The campaign became the first ever front page story for Greenpeace in Chinese newspapers. It sparked widespread concern and the State Council subsequently instructed related ministries to strengthen protection of biological resources in China.
2001
Sixty-five food brands in Hong Kong vowed to stop using GE ingredients in their products as Greenpeace launched the first Shoppers Guide to Avoiding GE Food in Hong Kong.
Field investigation by Greenpeace found that developed countries have been dumping hazardous electronic wastes in small towns in Guangdong Province, posing serious threats to the local environment and people’s health.
2000
Greenpeace action succeeded in stopping the contractor of Container Terminal 9 from dumping toxic mud into the South China Sea.
The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR passed a motion to label GE food products, after months’ of lobbying by Greenpeace.
Greenpeace struck key political success in improving the water quality of Dongjiang River in Guangdong Province, as the Hong Kong SAR Government agreed to set up a public advisory committee to monitor the water quality, and a representative of the National People’s Congress submitted policy recommendations for improving the river’s water quality.
1999
The Chinese Government submitted to the Basel Convention a document outlining the environmental safety standards for the ship breaking industry, following Greenpeace’s lobbying efforts.
Greenpeace succeeded in pushing the Hong Kong SAR Government to include the improvement of Dongjiang water quality in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address.
1998
Toys “R” Us, the U.S.-based toy retailer, agreed to remove toxic PVC toy products from shelves after testing and actions by Greenpeace.
Greenpeace’s campaign pressured the Hong Kong SAR Government into banning all import and re-export of hazardous wastes.
1997
With free transfer of Greenfreeze technology by Greenpeace, Kelon became the first Chinese manufacturer to produce ozone-friendly refrigerators.
Greenpeace’s Major International Achievements
2008
After our campaign in the 1990's against toxic PVC the US Congress somewhat belatedly follows Europe's lead of outlawing toxic PVC in children's toys.
After just three weeks of actions, a hugely popular spoof advert and 115,000 online signatures Unilever changes its position to support a moratorium on cutting down trees in Indonesia for palm oil plantations.
After a campaign in Argentina, the Government announces a ban on energy wasting incandescent lightbulbs.
2007
The World Bank's private lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) decides to sell its equity stake in Olam International Limited. Olam's involvement in illegal timber trade was first detailed in our Carving up the Congo report published earlier this year. The report illustrated how Olam was holding forest land in the Congo granted in breach of a moratorium on the granting of new logging titles, which the World Bank itself had helped to establish. It also described how Olam was sourcing timber from destructive and illegal operations through de-facto subcontracting agreements with third-party suppliers involved in illegal logging.
The Irish Government announces what will be the EU's first ban on energy-wasting incandescent lightbulbs, by as early as January 2009. Over the past year, a number of EU countries have talked about similar bans, but Ireland is the first to act.
Apple announces a phase-out of the most dangerous chemicals in its product line in response to a Webby-award winning online campaign by Greenpeace and Apple fans worldwide. The campaign challenged Apple to become a green leader in addressing the electronic waste problem.
2006 Thanks to the 30,000 emails and letters sent to their European headquarters, McDonald's has agreed to stop selling chicken fed on soya grown in newly deforested areas of the Amazon rainforest. By pledging to stop buying soya derived from Amazon destruction, the company' with its massive buying power has created a huge demand for soya not harvested from the ashes of the rainforest.
2006 Despite heavy lobbying by the nuclear power industry, Spain has confirmed that the country's eight operating plants will be phased out in favour of clean, renewable energy. Spain joins Sweden, Germany, Italy and Belgium as the fifth European country to abandon nuclear power.
2006 French President Chirac announced the dramatic recall of the asbestos-laden warship Clemenceau -- it will be turning around and going back to France. Our actions, emails to Chirac and an embarrassing international scandal left France with little choice but to abandon the misguided attempt to dump its own toxic mess on India.
2006 An area twice the size of Belgium has been given greater protection in the Amazon after a presidential decree. The decree by President Lula of Brazil to create the 6.4 million hectare (around 16 million acres) conservation area is a great victory for the people of the Amazon battling landgrabbers, cattle ranchers and loggers. The decree calls for around 1.6 million hectares to be permanently protected and totally off-limits to logging and deforestation.
2006 After ten years of difficult, dangerous, and at times, heartbreaking work, after thousands of activists from around the world sent emails, stood on blockades and voted against destruction with their wallets, one of the world's treasures, the Great Bear Rainforest, is saved from destruction.
2005 Photocopy giant Xerox agrees to stop buying timber pulp from StoraEnso, the Finnish national logging company which has been cutting down one of Europe's last remaining ancient forests. Following pressure by Greenpeace cyberactivists, the company agrees to change its procurement policy to one that ensures suppliers do not source timber from 'old-growth forests, conservation areas or other areas designated for protection'.
2005 Sony Ericsson announces that it will be phasing toxic chemicals out of its products, the result of our online action involving thousands of participants to pressure electronics companies to come clean. Sony Ericsson joins Samsung, Nokia and Sony as electronics companies who are phasing toxic chemicals out of all their products.
2004 A decade of lobbying, scientific research, and direct non-violent action by Greenpeace and environmental groups around the world comes to fruition as Russia ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, bringing to force the world's sole global effort to address the dangers of global warming.
2004 Unilever, Coca Cola and McDonalds promise to phase out climate-killing chemicals in their refrigeration equipment. In 1992 Greenpeace launched Greenfreeze with the help of two scientists who showed how to avoid HFC's altogether. We found an old fridge factory, appealed to our supporters to pre-order enough units to finance a refit, helped build the market and Greenfreeze was born. Today there are over 100 million Greenfreeze refrigerators in the world, produced by all the major European, Chinese, Japanese and Indian manufacturers.
2004 The Stockholm Convention comes into force following years of lobbying by Greenpeace and other environmental organizations. A key feature of the convention calls for the elimination of all Persistent Organic Pollutants. They include intentionally produced chemicals, such as pesticides and PCBs, as well as by-products such as cancer-causing dioxins that are released from industries that use chlorine and from waste incinerators.
2002 Brazil declares a moratorium on the export of mahogany following revelations of the extent of illegal logging and timber trade. Greenpeace actions around the world help enforce the ban.
2000 The Biosafety Protocol is adopted in Montreal, Canada. It aims to protect the environment and human health from risks of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) by controlling international trade of GMOs. Greenpeace has campaigned to stop the irreversible release of GMOs into the environment and to protect biodiversity from genetic pollution since 1995.
2000 An ever increasing and significant number of European retailers, food producers, and subsidiaries of multinational companies have guaranteed to keep genetically engineered ingredients out of their products due to consumer pressure. Thanks to its consumer networks in 15 countries, Greenpeace tests products, collects information about food products and policies and exposes contamination cases.
1999 Japan is ordered to stop "experimental" fishing of southern bluefin tuna by the International Law of the Sea Tribunal.
1999 Nine countries ban the use of harmful phthalates in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys for children under three and the EU introduces an "emergency" ban on soft PVC teething toys.
1998 A historic accord, the OSPAR Convention, bans the dumping of offshore installations at sea in the North-East Atlantic. The convention also agrees on the phasing-out of radioactive and toxic discharges, as proposed by Greenpeace.
1997 Greenpeace is conferred the UNEP Ozone Award for the development of Greenfreeze, a domestic refrigerator free of ozone depleting and significant global warming chemicals.
1996 The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is adopted at the United Nations.
1995 Following a submission made with Greenpeace support, UNESCO designates Russia's Komi Forest as a World Heritage Site.
1994 After years of Greenpeace actions against whaling, the Antarctic whale sanctuary, proposed by France and supported by Greenpeace, is approved by the International Whaling Commission.
1993 The London Dumping Convention permanently bans the dumping at sea of radioactive and industrial waste world-wide.
1992 Worldwide ban on high seas large-scale driftnets comes into force.
1991 Major German publishers go chlorine-free after Greenpeace produces chlorine-free edition of Der Spiegel as part of the campaign against chlorine-bleaching.
1988 Following at sea actions and submissions by Greenpeace, a world-wide ban on incinerating organochlorine waste at sea is agreed by the London Dumping Convention.
1985 French nuclear testing in the South Pacific again becomes the subject of international controversy, particularly following the sinking of Greenpeace's ship, the Rainbow Warrior, by the French Secret Services.
1982 After at sea actions against whalers, a whaling moratorium is adopted by the International Whaling Commission.
1978 Greenpeace actions halt the grey seal slaughter in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
1975 France ends atmospheric tests in the South Pacific after Greenpeace protests at the test site.
1972 After the first Greenpeace action in 1971, the US abandons nuclear testing grounds at Amchitka Island, Alaska.
