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Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world. So far, however, he has not been one of the greatest benefactors.
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The greatest philanthropist: major investor Warren Buffett.
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In second place: Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
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Bezos is responding to criticism from Amazon employees. Hundreds of them quit their jobs in September and took to the streets.
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Amazon has also set itself the goal of doing CO2 neutrality by 2040.
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He is the richest man in the world, but he is not one of the greatest philanthropists: Jeff Bezos (56), Amazon boss and owner of the US newspaper “Washington Post”. On the “Forbes” list of the greatest benefactors, he is ranked 23rd – far behind major investor Warren Buffett (1st), Microsoft founder Bill Gates (2nd) and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg (3rd)
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But that should change now! Jeff Bezos announced on Instagram on Monday that he plans to donate $ 10 billion to the environment. To do this, he quickly founds his own foundation – the “Bezos Earth Fund”. Bezos thus follows the example of Bill Gates, who also founded a foundation for climate protection (BLICK reported).
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“Climate change is the greatest threat to our planet,” wrote the Amazon boss in his Instagram post. On the other hand, large and small companies, states, international organizations and individuals have to work together, Bezos continued. With his foundation he wants to support researchers, activists, non-governmental organizations and other groups.
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That is behind the mega donation
The timing for Bezos’ announcement is no coincidence. Recently, the pressure on him and his company increased. In a letter last May, thousands of Amazon employees asked the board of directors how they intend to react to the climate crisis. As nothing essential happened, hundreds of employees quit their jobs in September.
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After all, one day before the strike, Jeff Bezos promised to achieve carbon neutrality in the Amazon business by 2040. At the time, he also announced that the company would use over 100,000 electric vans by 2024. “It will take collective action from large companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations and individuals,” Bezos said at the time.
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Amazon activists still criticize Bezos
So now the Amazon founder is leading by example. The group within the company, which is known as “Amazon employees for climate justice”, responded on Monday with a statement to Bezos ‘pledge to donate: “We welcome Jeff Bezos’ philanthropy. But in this case one hand does not wash the other. »
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The activists asked Amazon to stop working with oil and gas companies. “Will Jeff Bezos show us real leadership, or will he continue to be complicit in accelerating the climate crisis while supposedly trying to help,” it said at the end.
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The fact is: the goal of doing business with CO2 neutrality by 2040 is ambitious. Limiting gases that are harmful to the climate should pose a challenge for the Group. Because Amazon delivers ten billion articles to its customers every year, maintains extensive delivery networks and operates huge data centers.
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