10 inspiring environmental victories of 2021

Hope is a natural resource too, and it can sometimes feel in short supply. Here are 10 important and inspiring wins for people and the planet this year: let’s joyfully celebrate them and renew our strength to keep pushing for change in 2022. Forward!

1. Netherlands – Court orders oil giant Shell to cut emissions

Blockade of Shell's Harbour in Rotterdam. © Bart Hoogveld / Greenpeace
October 2021 – Blockade of Shell’s Harbour in Rotterdam – Greenpeace NL activists climb a Shell oil silo in Pernis, the Netherlands, and paste advertisements for fossil fuel industries. © Bart Hoogveld / Greenpeace

In a historic verdict, a Dutch court ruled that Shell is liable for damaging the climate. It is the first time that a major fossil fuel company is held accountable for its contribution to climate change and ordered to reduce its carbon emissions throughout its whole supply chain. Shell is one of the 10 most climate polluting companies in the world.

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