Greenpeace Day
September 15
About Greenpeace Day
Greenpeace Day takes place every year on 15 September, marking the anniversary of the voyage that gave rise to one of the world’s best-known environmental organisations. On this date in 1971, a small crew of activists set sail from Vancouver, Canada, aboard a chartered fishing boat they renamed the Greenpeace. The day is observed as a moment to reflect on peaceful environmental protest and the role of grassroots action in protecting the planet.
The Story Behind Greenpeace Day
The origins of Greenpeace lie in opposition to nuclear weapons testing. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a group of activists in Vancouver grew alarmed at United States plans to detonate nuclear bombs beneath Amchitka, a remote island in the Aleutian chain off Alaska. They feared the underground tests could trigger earthquakes and tsunamis, and they were determined to bear witness to what they saw as a reckless act. Calling themselves the Don’t Make a Wave Committee, they decided that the most powerful form of protest would be to sail directly towards the test site.
On 15 September 1971, a group of activists set out aboard a repurposed halibut fishing boat, the Phyllis Cormack, which they chartered and renamed Greenpeace for the journey. The name blended two of the causes closest to their hearts: a green and healthy planet, and peace. The vessel never reached Amchitka, as it was intercepted before completing the voyage, but the mission attracted widespread public attention. The United States went ahead with the test that year, yet within months the Amchitka site was closed, and the activists regarded the broader campaign as a success.
Buoyed by that early momentum, the organisers kept the name Greenpeace for their future projects. Through the 1970s the movement spread internationally and broadened its focus to commercial whaling, seal hunting, toxic waste and nuclear power. In 1979, Greenpeace International was established to coordinate the growing network of national offices, and it remains headquartered in Amsterdam. The date of that first voyage came to be commemorated as Greenpeace Day. In 2011, on the fortieth anniversary, the Mayor of Vancouver formally proclaimed 15 September as Greenpeace Day in the city where the story began.
When and Where is Greenpeace Day Celebrated?
Greenpeace Day falls on 15 September each year, a fixed date that does not move. In 2026 it lands on a Tuesday. While the proclamation that named the day originated in Vancouver, the occasion is now marked internationally by supporters, environmental groups and educators around the world. It carries particular resonance wherever Greenpeace maintains a presence, with the organisation operating offices across dozens of countries. The day is not a public holiday, but rather an informal observance used to highlight environmental campaigning and peaceful activism.
Ways to Get Involved in Greenpeace Day
There are many ways to mark Greenpeace Day, whether you want to learn, take practical action, or simply raise awareness among others.
- Read about the founding voyage – Spend some time learning the history of the 1971 Amchitka mission and how a single boat journey grew into a global movement. Understanding the origins puts the day into context.
- Reduce your plastic use – Greenpeace has long campaigned against ocean plastic pollution. Cutting single-use plastics from your shopping and swapping to reusable alternatives is a tangible way to honour the day.
- Support an environmental cause – Donate to or volunteer with an environmental organisation whose work you admire, whether that is Greenpeace itself or a local conservation group near you.
- Join a beach or community clean-up – Litter picks and shoreline clean-ups echo the practical, hands-on spirit of environmental activism and have an immediate visible impact.
- Cut your carbon footprint – Walk, cycle or use public transport for the day, reduce energy use at home, or commit to a longer-term change such as switching to a renewable energy supplier.
- Educate others – Share what you know about environmental issues with friends, family or colleagues. Conversations are often where lasting change begins.
- Get outdoors – Spend time in nature to reconnect with the landscapes and wildlife that environmental campaigning seeks to protect.
Facts and Figures
- The first Greenpeace voyage set sail on 15 September 1971 aboard a chartered fishing boat, the Phyllis Cormack, renamed Greenpeace for the journey.
- The activists originally organised under the name the Don’t Make a Wave Committee before adopting Greenpeace as their lasting identity.
- Greenpeace International was founded in 1979 and is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, coordinating offices in dozens of countries.
- The organisation’s flagship campaign vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, was bombed and sunk in Auckland harbour in 1985, killing photographer Fernando Pereira.
- The Mayor of Vancouver proclaimed 15 September as Greenpeace Day in 2011, on the fortieth anniversary of the founding voyage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Greenpeace Day?
Greenpeace Day is an annual observance held on 15 September that commemorates the 1971 voyage which led to the founding of Greenpeace. It serves as an occasion to reflect on peaceful environmental protest and grassroots campaigning.
When is Greenpeace Day in 2026?
Greenpeace Day falls on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. It is held on the same fixed date every year.
How did Greenpeace start?
Greenpeace began with a protest against United States nuclear testing at Amchitka island, off Alaska. On 15 September 1971, a group of activists from Vancouver sailed towards the test site in a boat they renamed Greenpeace, and the name endured for the movement that followed.
Spread the Word
Share Greenpeace Day with your community using #GreenpeaceDay and #GreenpeaceDay2026. Whether you mark the occasion with a beach clean-up, a pledge to cut plastic, or simply a conversation about protecting the planet, every bit of awareness helps. If you care about the oceans, you might also support World Oceans Day, which celebrates the seas that early Greenpeace campaigns fought to defend.
Related Awareness Days
- World Oceans Day – A global day dedicated to protecting the oceans and marine life, themes central to Greenpeace’s earliest campaigns.
- World Rainforest Day – Highlights the importance of protecting the world’s rainforests, another long-running focus of environmental activism.
- World Decarbonisation Day – Focuses on cutting carbon emissions and tackling climate change, a key priority for modern environmental campaigners.
Links
Featured image: Photo by Li-An Lim on Unsplash.
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