[6][7] Since its inception in the 1970s, Greenpeace U.S.A. has waged a series of corporate campaigns, street protests and sting operations focused on de-escalating the arms race, drawing connections between the climate crisis and militarism, stopping deforestation, ending fossil fuels, preventing plastic pollution and other issues.

Though hesitant to join a radical group then based in Vancouver, B.C., he took the sales job in Seattle and later began reporting for the magazine, covering the dumping of nuclear waste and use of toxic herbicides.

In a 2014 exit interview with Greenbiz, Radford said Greenpeace U.S.A. played an integral role in pressuring Asia Pulp & Paper to stop deforestation to preserve biodiversity and carbon storage in Indonesia.

If an agreement fails to materialize, Greenpeace will launch a public campaign to pressure the worst corporate abuser, and then recruit the targeted company to support new industry regulations.

An author, activist and filmmaker, Leonard produced the popular 2007 web video, "The Story of Stuff," which traces the extraction, manufacture, production and distribution of disposable consumer items.

Tefere Gebre, former Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO, was recruited to serve as Greenpeace USA's Chief Program Officer overseeing campaigns, direct action and organizing.

A more peaceful, livable, and equal future depends on breaking our addiction to volatile and conflict-driven fossil fuels.”[8] From 2011 to 2013, Phil Radford, executive director of Greenpeace USA, participated in multiple White House protests demanding President Obama order a halt to construction of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

[9] Using flexi-ties to attach themselves to the White House, protesters in business suits conducted a 2011 sit-in on Pennsylvania Avenue, urging Obama to issue executive orders to not only halt Keystone but also implement stricter rules to regulate power plant emissions, block coal and natural gas exports and maximize energy efficiency in buildings.

The protests drew national and international attention over Native American tribes' treaty rights, access to clean drinking water and the dangers of burning fossil fuels.

The lawsuit alleged Greenpeace USA misled the public with false claims about the Standing Rock Sioux tribes' sacred sites and the likelihood the pipeline would contaminate the Missouri River in North Dakota.

It is also a check on corporate efforts to silence dissent.”[46] The Intercept online newspaper earlier reported Energy Transfer Partners hired the private security firm of TigerSwan to gather information for the lawsuit via fake social media accounts and infiltration of protest camps.

Earlier, a group of Greenpeace USA activists had rappelled off a bridge in Portland, Oregon, in an effort to block a Shell oil drilling ship from leaving the city's port.

In reference to President Biden's Build Back Better Plan, a critical part of the proposed $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, protesters in the Potomac waved signs that said "Don’t sink West Virginia,” “Manchin pass the bill,” “BBB brings jobs to WV” and “No climate no deal.” [50][51] In 2008, Greenpeace's Project Hot Seat campaign aimed to pressure members of the United States Congress to implement policies to curb and cut greenhouse gas emissions, and what Phil Radford, then Greenpeace Executive Director, said was "going to be key to making the environmental movement into a viable political force in Congress and around the country.

"[52] In 2021 Greenpeace's "Project Unearthed" released video clips of an Exxon Mobil executive revealing the oil company's lobbying tactics to weaken President Biden's infrastructure plan.

On video, McCoy spoke about working with "shadow groups" to back a carbon tax he never thought would be imposed, as well as influencing senators to weaken climate provisions in Biden's plans.

[55] In 2002, A federal judge sentenced Greenpeace protesters to one year probation for disrupting a "Star Wars" missile program at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California.

Greenpeace USA had charged that Walmart employs "unlawful, unfair, and deceptive business practices" in falsely labeling and promoting private-label plastic products as recyclable.

[58] In response to the ruling, Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director John Hocevar said, “Walmart failed to take action when we pointed out that they were labeling packaging as recyclable when it was headed for landfills and incinerators.

When we finally took them to court, Walmart used a legal technicality to challenge our right to file rather than addressing the substance of the case.”[59] In 2021, Greenpeace released best to worst rankings on 20 grocery chains' elimination of single-use plastics that pollute the ocean.

[62] In 2011, less than a week after Greenpeace USA activists unfurled a banner outside of Mattel's El Segundo offices, the toymaker famous for its plastic Barbie and Ken dolls announced the company would investigate claims they use materials that contribute to rainforest destruction.