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Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, has pledged $10bn (£7.7bn) to help fight climate change.
Taking to Instagram to announce the news, Bezos revealed he will be launching the ‘Bezos Earth Fund’ that will look help finance scientists, NGOs and activists in their work to “help save Earth”.
With an estimated net worth of $129.9bn (£99.9bn) the pledge equates to almost 8% of his fortune and is his largest donation to date.
In the post Bezos called climate change the “biggest threat to our planet” and revealed that the fund will start issuing grants this summer.
The post said: “Today, I’m thrilled to announce I am launching the Bezos Earth Fund.
“Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. 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 we all share.”
It continued:“This global initiative will fund scientists, activists, NGOs — any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world. We can save Earth. It’s going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals.
“I’m committing $10bn to start and will begin issuing grants this summer. Earth is the one thing we all have in common — let’s protect it, together.”
It comes after a GMB investigation found that Amazon warehouses have been hit by more than 600 “serious injuries or near misses” in the past three years.
