Jeff Bezos gives $25 million to protect the Pacific Ocean: What the Amazon boss’s $10 billion climate pledge wants to achieve | Today’s news
Jeff Bezos’ Bezos Earth Fund is giving more than $25 million to protect oceans in five Pacific island nations, adding to his broader $10 billion commitment to fight climate change and protect nature by 2030.
The latest grants will support projects in the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, covering more than 625,000 square miles of ocean.
The latest figures from the Bezos Earth Fund show it has given $2.4 billion to seven programs so far. That’s about 24% of the $10 billion commitment, with about $7.6 billion left to commit by 2030.
Bezos’ $10 Billion Climate Pledge
Bezos launched the Bezos Earth Fund in 2020 with a $10 billion commitment to fund scientists, activists, NGOs and other organizations working on climate and nature solutions.
The fund says the money will be fully allocated by 2030, the year by which the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are to be met.
The Earth Fund distributes grants in a variety of areas, including conservation, food systems, environmental justice, energy and industrial decarbonization, finance and markets, technology and monitoring and accountability.
How much has Bezos spent so far?
According to current Earth Fund data:
Total commitment: $10 billion
Awarded so far: $2.4 billion
Share of commitment granted: about 24%
Still to be awarded: about $7.6 billion
Why the Pacific is important to Bezos
Pacific projects are designed to protect the ecosystems that support whales, sharks, sea turtles, coral reefs and fisheries, while supporting communities whose food security and livelihoods depend on the ocean.
The Earth Fund’s approach also reflects a shift towards Pacific-led conservation. With the second round of grants, 17 of the 22 Pacific countries and territories are now involved in efforts to protect and sustainably manage their waters, the fund says.
The high seas component is particularly significant as the UN Treaty on the High Seas entered into force in January 2026, providing a new legal framework for the creation of marine protected areas in international waters.
