Jeff Bezos’ Earth Fund gives another $443 million to conservation and climate justice

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced $443 million in donations to be spent primarily on land conservation, restoration, and reducing environmental burdens on marginalized communities.

The Earth fund has pledged more than $3 billion for similar incentives this year. In 2020, Bezos promised to funnel $10 billion, about 5% of net worth, towards tackling climate change in this decade.

Of the 44 grants announced on Monday, $130 million goes towards helping the Justice40 initiative, an effort by the Biden administration to fight climate change and support disadvantaged communities. Another $261 million is for a proposal to protect 30 percent of the land and sea by 2030, focusing on the tropical Andes and Congo Basin. The remaining $51 million will support land restoration in the U.S. and Africa.

Bezos has been on a spending spree this year after stepping down as the CEO of Amazon.com Inc. The latest donation brings his total giving to more than $1 billion, including $200 million toward the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and $100 million to the Obama Foundation.

Bezos recently laid out his plans for the Earth Fund, including a $2 billion towards transforming food systems and restoring nature. Last month, he announced these plans to coincide with the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.