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The world’s richest person, Amazon’s chief executive Jeff Bezos, has announced a $10bn fund to help tackle climate change.
Titled the “Bezos Earth Fund“, the new initiative will begin issuing funding to scientists, activists, and NGOs from this summer.
Why It Matters!
Bezos stated in an Instagram post that “climate change is the biggest threat to our planet” and that he wants to “work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share“.
The news comes at a time when his company is facing intense internal and external criticism over its own environmental impact.
How We Got Here!
Amazon employees have been protesting and calling the company to enact stronger action on climate change. Several workers involved in those protests were warned to be quiet or face dismissal.
Also, some people familiar with the fund confirmed it would not be used for investments, adding that a statement from a group called Amazon Employees for Climate Justice is accusing Amazon of supporting fossil fuel companies and funding climate skeptic think-tanks.
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