At this time of year, many of us slow down. Streets grow quieter, families come together, and life feels a little lighter – at least for a while. But the natural world doesn’t get to rest.
All around us, nature is under pressure. The world’s biodiversity – the delicate web of life that sustains everything from oceans to forests – is being pushed to the brink by climate change, pollution and industrial exploitation. Big Oil and other major polluters are accelerating that loss, fuelling the climate crisis for profit.
That’s why, for the first time ever, Greenpeace is launching a Christmas appeal to raise £270,000 by 31 December – to keep our ships at sea, fund vital science, and hold the biggest polluters to account. Not to add to the festive noise, but because the planet can’t wait. While the world rests, the work of protecting our shared home must go on.
The Arctic – where this fight is unfolding
Of course, nowhere shows the impact of the climate crisis more clearly than the Arctic. Once blanketed by ice year-round, this vast frozen world is warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet. The ice that once stretched for miles is disappearing at record speed – taking with it one of Earth’s best defences against climate breakdown.
And what happens in the Arctic affects us all. The ice acts like the planet’s mirror, reflecting sunlight and keeping global temperatures stable. As it melts, seas rise, weather patterns shift, and communities far beyond the Arctic circle feel the consequences.
But the Arctic isn’t only vital for the planet’s balance, it’s also one of the most remarkable places on Earth.
Home to extraordinary life
Despite its harsh conditions, the Arctic is alive with wildlife that depends on the ice to survive. Polar bears, walruses and seals hunt and raise their young here, while whales migrate thousands of miles to feed in its rich waters. Beneath the surface, tiny plankton thrive under the ice – forming the base of a food web that supports everything from fish to seabirds.
But as the ice disappears, life is changing fast. Polar bears are travelling further to find food, walruses are crowding onto shrinking beaches, and Indigenous Peoples who have lived sustainably in the Arctic for generations are seeing their ways of life threatened.
A fragile region under pressure
The melting ice isn’t just an environmental tragedy – it’s also opening the door to exploitation. As the Arctic thaws, oil and gas companies are racing to drill in newly accessible waters. Fishing fleets are moving further north, while shipping routes threaten whales and other marine life with noise and pollution.
Drilling here is especially dangerous. Icebergs can collide with rigs, and if a spill occurred, experts agree it would be almost impossible to clean up. Plastic pollution has even been found trapped in Arctic ice – proof that nowhere on Earth is untouched.
But we know we can make a difference
It’s not too late to act. Less than 1.5% of the Arctic Ocean is currently protected, but Greenpeace and supporters around the world are fighting to change that. Together, we’ve helped push Shell to abandon its drilling plans in the region and driven global momentum for a Global Ocean Treaty that could protect areas like this for good.
Each of these victories shows what’s possible when ordinary people stand together against corporate greed and destruction.
The story of our planet doesn’t have to be one of loss
With courage and collective action, it can be one of renewal – where science, activism and people power come together to protect life on Earth.
If you’d like to play your part in this first-ever Christmas appeal, your donation will help fund the science, ships and peaceful actions that defend our planet – and keep the fight for our shared home going strong into 2026.