Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos – currently the world’s richest man – pledged $10bn to a new fund he's set up to tackle climate change.
The internet shopping tycoon said the Bezos Earth Fund will “fund scientists, activists, NGOs – any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve the natural world”.
Bezos – who will start distributing grants from the fund this summer – said the climate effort will “take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organisations and individuals”.
The Amazon boss has previously faced criticism from some of his own employees over the company’s climate stance.
No details were given in a short Instagram post of any specific destinations for the funding, which represents about 8% of Bezos’ wealth.
But Amazon, the company Bezos founded, has been among a clutch of tech-led giants to back renewables uptake globally, most recently announcing backing for 329MW more wind and solar that brought its global total near the 2GW mark.
The company aims to be 100% renewable by 2030 and net-carbon-neutral by 2040.
