This is becoming a big problem in Croatia, and according to Greenpeace, many companies use greenwashing to hide the real damage they are doing and to trick people into thinking they are “green” and responsible.
So, what does greenwashing actually look like here? One of the most common examples in Croatia is in the fossil fuel industry. Companies often promote natural gas as a “clean” or “natural” fuel. But don’t let the word “natural” fool you gas is still a fossil fuel, and it releases a lot of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane into the atmosphere. Methane is even 84 times stronger than CO₂ at warming the planet over a short time. So, gas is definitely not a green or transitional solution.
For example, one big company called Prvo plinarsko društvo has a project called “Plinko.” They use a fun and “green” image to make natural gas seem like the best and most eco-friendly energy source. But they don’t tell you about the serious damage methane causes. They also say that solar and wind energy can’t be stored, which isn’t true. Extra green energy can be saved in the power grid or in batteries, so that’s just another trick to make gas look better.
Another example is the Plomin C thermal power plant in Plomin Bay. Greenpeace protested against this project with a giant banner saying “Coal is a dirty business.” The plant would have used 100% imported coal, which is very harmful for the environment and would also make electricity more expensive for people. A survey that Greenpeace organized showed that 64% of people in Croatia were against building Plomin C, while only 22% supported it. Most people think Croatia should focus on renewable energy sources like wind and solar instead.
Greenwashing is a big problem because it stops real progress. It tricks people, and it lets companies avoid taking real responsibility for their impact on nature. That’s why organizations like Greenpeace are so important. They work hard to uncover these false claims through protests, public campaigns, education, and even legal actions.
But it’s not just up to them young people, and all of us as consumers, have power too. When we ask questions, learn more, and demand real action, we can push companies and politicians to actually change. If we all work together young people, NGOs, and decision-makers we can fight greenwashing and help Croatia move toward a truly green and sustainable future.
Sources:
https://www.greenpeace.org/croatia/greenwashing-ili-zeleno-pranje-savjesti/
https://www.greenpeace.org/croatia/plomin-c-je-prljav-posao/?utm_source=
