By Lisa Stiffler
December 6, 2021
Source: Geek Wire
Photo Source: Unsplash, Ronan Furuta This special series focuses on important community issues, innovative solutions to societal challenges, and people and non-profit groups making an impact through technology. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced 44 grants totaling $443 million from the Bezos Earth Fund on Monday. The new pledges bring the total amount allocated to $1.39 billion since the initiative launched in February 2020. The former Amazon CEO has committed to granting $10 billion in a decade.
The recipients include programs with a focus on climate justice and benefiting underserved communities, nature conservation and restoration efforts, and tying the work in to climate goals.
Grant recipients include:
$130 million for 19 organizations supporting the U.S. Justice40 initiative, a program tied into federal investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean transit in disadvantaged communities.
$261 million invested primarily in conservation efforts in the Congo Basin and Tropical Andes. The funding supports the international 30×30 initiative, which aims to to protect 30% of the world’s land and sea by 2030.
$51 million to support restoration of degraded environments in the U.S. and Africa, including urban forestry.
Bezos is the chair of the effort, and his girlfriend Lauren Sánchez is vice chair. Andrew Steer, the former head of the World Resources Institute, is the CEO and president of the fund. All three attended the United Nation’s COP26 climate talks that were recently held in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Disadvantaged communities have borne the brunt of environmental damage for too long and are key players in driving the necessary solutions,” Sánchez said in a statement announcing the grants. “With each grant we make, we are supporting leading institutions working with communities to advance climate justice efforts.” We are pleased to announce $443M in grants to advance environmental justice, conserve and restore nature, and improve monitoring & accountability. These 44 grants will help enable some of the world’s leading change agents to act quickly on the challenges of this decisive decade.
— Bezos Earth Fund (@BezosEarthFund) December 6, 2021
Bezos previously announced that he was earmarking $3 billion of his fund for nature-focused efforts, including conservation, restoration and food production. This latest announcement identifies specific recipients and dollar figures.
Bezos and others have acknowledged that urgent action is needed in this decade to stave off the worst effects of climate change.
Outside of the fund, Bezos is also investing in technology that will help decarbonize power production, transportation and other industrial sectors. That includes participating in the $130 million venture capital round recently announced by Vancouver, B.C.’s General Fusion, a company developing fusion energy technology. Bezos is also an investor with the Bill Gates-led Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which is also backing climate tech companies.
Amazon, the business that Bezos founded, is likewise investing in climate tech and has taken on a leadership role in the climate space, pledging to become carbon neutral by 2040. The tech giant, however, is still seeing its carbon emissions increase.
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