Amazon founder Jeff Bezos earmarked US$ 1 billion of his US$ 10 billion environmental philanthropy to conservation efforts Monday afternoon, aiming to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s land and sea by 2030 in an effort to prevent mass extinctions.
The Bezos Earth Fund, which he formed in 2020, did not identify any of the groups or initiatives it intends to back with the new donations. It said, in a news release, only that it will prioritize “areas that are important for biodiversity and carbon stocks and will give emphasis to the central role of local communities and Indigenous peoples in conservation efforts.” It added that the philanthropy will focus on the Congo Basin, the tropical Andes and the tropical Pacific Ocean.
“By coming together with the right focus and ingenuity, we can have both the benefits of our modern lives and a thriving natural world,” Bezos said in a statement. “I hope this commitment inspires others to make their own pledges to protect and conserve nature and help in the fight against climate change. A job this big needs many allies.”
The new round of giving taps into the $10 billion Bezos previously set aside for the Earth Fund. The group intends to begin disbursing the money this year, prioritized to regions “where there is significant need and opportunity, as well as where there is a strong political commitment to nature.”
According to the Earth Fund statement, Bezos specifically targeted conserving 30 percent of land and sea because it could protect up to 80 percent of plant and animal species, secure 60 percent of necessary carbon stocks, and sustain two-thirds of clean water. His gift received support from a handful of global dignitaries, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry and United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed. Bezos’s Amazon fortune has made him the world’s second-wealthiest person, with a net worth of US$ 200 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Only Tesla founder Elon Musk is currently worth more money. (Bezos also owns The Washington Post.)
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