Greenpeace East Asia

Greenpeace East Asia is the regional office of the international environmental organization Greenpeace serving Hong Kong, mainland China and the wider East Asian region. Its first China office opened in Hong Kong in 1997, providing a base for environmental investigations, public campaigning, policy advocacy and non-violent direct action. The organization is not a consumer-products company; its principal outputs are research, public-interest campaigns, policy interventions and communications intended to change government and corporate behavior. The Hong Kong office initially addressed issues connected with hazardous waste, electronic waste and toxic materials. One early action involved blocking a shipment of electronic waste from Australia, while another campaign drew attention to the risks associated with polyvinyl chloride in children's toys. In 1998, following Greenpeace advocacy, Hong Kong prohibited the import and re-export of hazardous waste, an outcome that the organization identifies as an early campaign achievement. Before formal offices were established in Guangzhou and Beijing in 2002, activists working from Hong Kong conducted investigations and campaigns in mainland China. These included research into electronic-waste dumping in Guangdong and opposition to Monsanto's attempt to patent a Chinese indigenous soybean variety. The early mainland program therefore combined environmental health, waste management, food systems and intellectual-property concerns surrounding agricultural biodiversity. Greenpeace East Asia subsequently expanded its agenda. Its principal campaign areas have included climate and energy, food and agriculture, toxics and water pollution, forests, and air pollution. The organization has urged China to reduce dependence on coal, accelerate renewable-energy development, improve the environmental performance of the wood-products sector, protect forests, address polluted rivers and lakes, and respond to climate change. It uses scientific research, field investigations, public reports, media work, lobbying and carefully staged direct actions. Its approach emphasizes that rapid economic development in East Asia has produced substantial prosperity while also creating significant regional and global environmental costs. Research and expeditions have been an important part of the office's work. Greenpeace expeditions to China's Himalayan region in 2006 and 2007 documented evidence that the organization interpreted as showing significant glacial retreat. In 2006, Greenpeace East Asia was reportedly the only nongovernmental organization consulted on an early draft of China's renewable-energy law by the National People's Congress, illustrating its role as both a campaigning body and a policy interlocutor. The office has also targeted corporate supply chains. In July 2010, activists staged a forest-protection action involving Asia Pulp & Paper and French retailer Auchan, whose product range included Breeze tissue paper. Greenpeace criticized the forestry practices associated with APP products, while later describing its relationship with APP as including monitoring of the company's sustainability strategy and implementation of a Forest Conservation Policy. In Hong Kong, the organization has worked with local civil-society groups and educational organizations on broader environmental advocacy. In 2021, it collaborated with Liber Research Community on a report identifying and mapping brownfield land in Hong Kong. Greenpeace East Asia's current public-interest profile is centered on environmental campaigning rather than commercial expansion. Its work connects local issues—such as Hong Kong land use, water pollution and waste—with larger regional questions involving coal, renewable energy, forests, agriculture, air quality and climate change. The organization operates within the broader Greenpeace network but conducts campaigns and research tailored to East Asian institutions, industries and environmental c…

Greenpeace East Asia began its China presence with the opening of a Hong Kong office in 1997. The office entered a region undergoing rapid industrialization and trade growth, where environmental concerns included hazardous-waste movement, electronic-waste disposal, toxic consumer materials, agricultural biodiversity and pollution from expanding production. Its early campaigns combined public protest with investigative work. Among the first actions described in reference material were a blockade concerning electronic waste shipped from Australia and a campaign highlighting concerns about PVC in children's toys. The Hong Kong office soon developed work beyond the territory. In 1998, Greenpeace linked its campaigning to Hong Kong's ban on the import and re-export of hazardous waste. Before Greenpeace offices were formally opened in Guangzhou and Beijing in 2002, Hong Kong-based activists conducted mainland investigations, including research into electronic-waste dumping in Guangdong. They also campaigned against Monsanto's effort to patent a Chinese indigenous soybean variety, connecting environmental protection with food sovereignty and the protection of agricultural resources. Following the establishment of mainland offices, Greenpeace East Asia's program broadened from waste and food-related concerns to a wider set of environmental systems. Its campaign structure came to include climate and energy, food and agriculture, toxics and water pollution, forests, and air pollution. The organization has repeatedly focused on the environmental implications of China's energy and industrial choices, particularly coal dependence, renewable-energy development, polluted waterways, forest-product supply chains and the effects of economic growth on ecosystems and public health. Research has supported both campaigning and policy engagement. Expeditions to China's Himalayan region in 2006 and 2007 produced evidence that Greenpeace used to illustrate dramatic glacial retreat and the urgency of climate change. In 2006, the organization participated in consultation on an early draft of China's renewable-energy law. This policy role existed alongside Greenpeace's characteristic public-facing tactics, including direct action, media events, corporate targeting and publication of investigative reports. Forest campaigning became a prominent part of the regional portfolio. In July 2010, Greenpeace East Asia targeted Asia Pulp & Paper and Auchan in an action involving Breeze tissue products. The organization criticized the environmental consequences of APP's forestry practices. Reference material also states that Greenpeace later worked with APP to monitor implementation of the company's Forest Conservation Policy and its broader sustainability strategy, indicating a combination of adversarial campaigning and subsequent scrutiny of corporate commitments. The organization has also conducted local advocacy with civil-society and educational groups. One cited collaboration involved the Geography Society of PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College between 2008 and 2009. In Hong Kong, land-use and development issues became another focus. Greenpeace East Asia and Liber Research Community produced Missing Brownfields—Hong Kong Brownfields Report 2021, reporting 1,950 hectares of brownfield sites and arguing that the total exceeded the government's previously located area by 379 hectares. Today, Greenpeace East Asia functions as a regional Greenpeace office rather than a conventional commercial brand. It translates the global organization's environmental mission into campaigns directed at East Asian governments, companies and consumers. Its methods include field research, scientific evidence, reports, coalition work, lobbying, public education and non-violent direct action. The principal strategic theme running through its history is the effort to connect local environmental harm with regional industrial systems and global issues such as climate change, resource consumption and biodiversity loss.

• 2021

  Hong Kong brownfield report

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Greenpeace East Asia and Liber Research Community publish a report estimating 1,950 hectares of brownfield sites in Hong Kong.

• 2010

  Forest-products supply-chain action

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Greenpeace East Asia stages a public action involving Asia Pulp & Paper and Auchan over the forest impacts associated with APP paper products.

• 2007

  Second Himalayan expedition

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  A second expedition to China's Himalayan region produces further evidence that Greenpeace presents as showing dramatic glacier retreat.

• 2006

  Renewable-energy law consultation

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Greenpeace East Asia is consulted on an early draft of China's renewable-energy law by the National People's Congress.

• 2006

  First Himalayan expedition cited

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  A Greenpeace expedition to China's Himalayan region gathers evidence used to highlight glacial retreat and climate change.

• 2002

  Formal mainland offices open in Guangzhou and Beijing

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Greenpeace establishes formal offices in Guangzhou and Beijing after earlier mainland campaigns had been coordinated from Hong Kong.

• 1998

  Hong Kong bans hazardous-waste import and re-export

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Following a Greenpeace campaign, Hong Kong bans the import and re-export of hazardous waste, according to the organization's cited campaign history.

• 1997

  First China office opens in Hong Kong

  [1]Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Greenpeace opens its first China office in Hong Kong, establishing a base for environmental campaigning and investigations across East Asia.

A regional environmental campaigning and research organization that combines scientific investigations, public communications, non-violent direct action and policy advocacy to address environmental problems in East Asia.

• Research and advocacy

  Environmental research reports

  Greenpeace East Asia publishes investigations and reports intended to document environmental conditions, identify responsible actors or policy gaps, and support public campaigns. Topics have included electronic waste, forests, climate change, glaciers, energy, water pollution and Hong Kong brownfield land.

• Research report · 2021

  Missing Brownfields—Hong Kong Brownfields Report 2021

  A collaborative report prepared with Liber Research Community that assessed Hong Kong's brownfield sites. The report stated that 1,950 hectares had been identified, 379 hectares more than the area previously located by the government.

• Environmental campaign

  Climate and energy campaign

  This campaign area addresses coal dependence, renewable-energy development and the relationship between energy policy and climate change. Greenpeace East Asia has used advocacy, research and public communications to urge a transition away from coal and toward renewable energy.

• Environmental campaign

  Forests campaign

  The forests program examines timber and paper supply chains, forest loss and corporate sourcing practices. It has included criticism of Asia Pulp & Paper products and later monitoring of the company's stated forest-conservation commitments.

• Environmental campaign

  Toxics and water-pollution campaign

  This work covers hazardous waste, electronic waste, toxic materials and polluted rivers and lakes. Early campaigns in Hong Kong and Guangdong established a continuing focus on the public-health and ecological consequences of industrial pollution.

• 2021Hong Kong brownfield mapping and advocacy

  Hong Kong

  Greenpeace East Asia and Liber Research Community documented and analyzed Hong Kong brownfield sites, reporting a total of 1,950 hectares.

  Source
• 2010APP and Auchan paper-products action

  Mainland China · France · International

  Activists dressed as Sumatran tigers buried themselves beneath packages of Breeze toilet paper rolls to protest the forest impacts Greenpeace associated with Asia Pulp & Paper products sold by Auchan.

  Outcome. Greenpeace later described cooperation with APP to monitor its sustainability strategy and Forest Conservation Policy implementation.

  Source
• 2008Local environmental advocacy with PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College

  Hong Kong

  Greenpeace East Asia worked with the Geography Society of PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College on general environmental advocacy during 2008–2009.

  Source
• 2006Himalayan glacier expeditions

  Mainland China · Himalayan region

  Greenpeace conducted expeditions in China's Himalayan region in 2006 and 2007 and publicized evidence it said demonstrated substantial glacial retreat.

  Source
• 2000Guangdong electronic-waste investigation

  Mainland China · Guangdong

  Activists based in Hong Kong investigated electronic-waste dumping in Guangdong before Greenpeace offices were formally opened in Guangzhou and Beijing.

  Source
• 2000Chinese indigenous soybean patent campaign

  Mainland China

  Greenpeace campaigned against Monsanto's attempt to patent a Chinese indigenous soybean variety, linking agricultural biodiversity with opposition to corporate control of genetic resources.

  Source
• 1998Hazardous-waste import and re-export campaign

  Hong Kong

  Greenpeace campaigned for controls on hazardous-waste movements in Hong Kong. The organization attributes the subsequent ban on import and re-export of hazardous waste to this advocacy.

  Outcome. Hong Kong banned the import and re-export of hazardous waste.

  Source
• 1997Electronic-waste shipment blockade

  Hong Kong · Australia

  One of the Hong Kong office's early actions challenged the movement of electronic waste from Australia, using direct action to draw attention to hazardous-waste trade.

  Source
• 1997PVC in children's toys campaign

  Hong Kong

  Greenpeace highlighted the potential dangers of PVC materials in children's toys as part of its early toxics and consumer-safety work.

  Source

• 2010

  Combine public pressure with monitoring of APP commitmentsStrategy

  Background

  Greenpeace had criticized Asia Pulp & Paper's forestry practices and staged an action involving APP products sold through Auchan.

  Action taken

  After public criticism, Greenpeace East Asia also worked with APP to monitor its sustainability strategy and implementation of the Forest Conservation Policy.

  Aftermath

  The relationship combined adversarial campaigning with scrutiny of corporate environmental commitments.

  Source

• 2006

  Engage in renewable-energy policy consultationStrategy

  Background

  China was developing an early draft of a renewable-energy law while Greenpeace was campaigning for a shift away from fossil fuels.

  Action taken

  Greenpeace East Asia participated as the only nongovernmental organization reportedly consulted on the early draft by the National People's Congress.

  Aftermath

  The consultation demonstrated the organization's policy-advocacy role alongside its public campaigning and direct-action work.

  Source

• 2002

  Expand from Hong Kong into formal mainland officesStrategy

  Background

  Earlier mainland campaigns had been coordinated from the Hong Kong office, including electronic-waste investigations and food-and-agriculture advocacy.

  Action taken

  Greenpeace opened formal offices in Guangzhou and Beijing and broadened its operational presence in mainland China.

  Aftermath

  The regional program developed a wider portfolio covering climate, energy, food, agriculture, toxics, water, forests and air pollution.

  Source

1. 1Greenpeace East Asiaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Greenpeace East Asia official websitegreenpeace.org