Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced Monday he would spend $10 billion of his own fortune to launch a global initiative to fight climate change. He is photographed here in front of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption
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Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced Monday he would spend $10 billion of his own fortune to launch a global initiative to fight climate change. He is photographed here in front of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.
Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced Monday he is committing $10 billion to fight climate change, which he calls "the biggest threat to our planet."
Bezos says the funds will go toward the creation of the Bezos Earth Fund.
"This global initiative will fund scientists, activists, NGOs — any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world," he writes in an Instagram post. "I want 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."
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Bezos adds, "It's going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals."
But some Amazon workers, deeply critical of their employer's own environmental record, say it is Amazon itself that has been complicit in the climate crisis and must change its ways.
"We applaud Jeff Bezos' philanthropy, but one hand cannot give what the other is taking away," Amazon Employees For Climate Justice said in a statement in response to the pledge.
As employees, here is our statement to Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund announcement (as an image): pic.twitter.com/opgcCpa67D
— Amazon Employees For Climate Justice (@AMZNforClimate) February 17, 2020
"When is Amazon going to stop helping oil & gas companies ravage Earth with still more oil and gas wells? When is Amazon going to stop funding climate-denying think tanks like the Competitive Enterprise Institute and climate-delaying policy? When will Amazon take responsibility for the lungs of children near its warehouses by moving from diesel to all-electric trucking?"
In April, thousands of Amazon workers signed an open letter to Bezos and Amazon's board of directors, calling on them to end contracts with oil and gas companies, halt donations to climate change-denying lawmakers and setting measurable goals.
Around 1,700 workers joined a global climate walkout on Sept. 20. In a statement, they said "as employees at one of the largest and most powerful companies in the world, our role in facing the climate crisis is to ensure our company is leading on climate, not following."
A day before the walkout, Amazon addressed the demands, announcing its Climate Pledge, committing to use 100% renewable energy by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2040.
Part of its pledge involves the purchase of 100,000 emissions-free electric vehicles from Rivian, a Michigan-based company in which it is investing hundreds of millions of dollars.
The e-commerce behemoth ships billions of items worldwide, relying on fossil fuels to power its fleet of planes and trucks.
Bezos is the richest person in the world, according to Forbes, which puts his net worth at $126.9 billion.
The world's second wealthiest person, Bill Gates, who Forbes says trails Bezos by $14.5 billion, is also making the climate crisis a philanthropic priority.
With my finger on the pulse of environmental initiatives and philanthropic endeavors, let's delve into the complexities surrounding Jeff Bezos' $10 billion commitment to combat climate change, a move he deems crucial in the face of the planet's most significant threat. Bezos, the Amazon CEO and world's wealthiest individual, revealed his ambitious plan in February 2020, establishing the Bezos Earth Fund.
This substantial financial injection is earmarked for a global initiative supporting scientists, activists, and NGOs, aiming to preserve and protect the natural world. Bezos emphasizes the need for collective action, involving big and small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals in the fight against climate change.
However, not everyone is quick to applaud. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a group critical of the company's environmental practices, voiced concerns. Despite acknowledging Bezos' philanthropy, they questioned Amazon's own complicity in the climate crisis. Accusations range from supporting oil and gas companies to funding climate-denying think tanks. The group demands accountability, urging Amazon to cease ties with such entities and transition from diesel to all-electric trucking to mitigate environmental impact.
Amazon responded to internal pressure and external scrutiny by announcing its Climate Pledge. The company committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. This pledge involves a substantial investment in Rivian, a Michigan-based company producing emissions-free electric vehicles. The move aligns with Amazon's efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of its massive global operations, relying on fossil fuels to power its extensive fleet of planes and trucks.
This narrative also sheds light on the broader corporate landscape, where large corporations grapple with environmental responsibilities, often facing internal dissent and external scrutiny. Notably, Bill Gates, the world's second wealthiest person, is also channeling his philanthropic efforts towards addressing the climate crisis, showcasing a growing trend among the global elite to prioritize environmental sustainability.
