A North Dakota judge has finalized a substantial $345 million judgment against Greenpeace, stemming from the environmental group's involvement in protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. This ruling, made by Judge James Gion, concluded a legal battle initiated by Energy Transfer, the pipeline company, which had previously been awarded a jury verdict of approximately $667 million in damages in March. However, Judge Gion reduced this amount substantially in his October ruling, reflecting the ongoing contentious nature of the case.

Greenpeace has vehemently opposed the judgment, characterizing the lawsuit as an assault on free speech and claiming that its actions aimed at protesting environmental damage should not be considered unlawful. The interim general counsel for Greenpeace USA, Marco Simons, expressed intentions to seek a new trial and potentially appeal the decision to the North Dakota Supreme Court, emphasizing the group's commitment to advocating for ecological issues and its belief in the legality of their protest activities.

Energy Transfer has welcomed the ruling, viewing it as a critical step in holding Greenpeace accountable for what they define as unlawful actions that have caused significant harm to their operations. This case highlights the broader tensions between corporate interests in infrastructure development and environmental activism, raising key questions about the rights of organizations to speak out against actions that they believe threaten ecological sustainability.