The Amazon-in-chief founded an Initiative to support climate activities. In the climate of his work, he has to iron out a lot.

Amazon chief Bezos wants with billions in donation own climate sins into perspective photo: Reuters

WASHINGTON afp/rtr/taz | Amazon-Chef Jeff Bezos is willing to provide 10 billion dollars (9.2 billion euros) for climate protection. The money should flow in an Initiative called Bezos Earth Fund, which will Finance starting in the summer of scientists, activists and non-governmental organizations, announced Bezos on Monday on the Internet service Instagram. There, he described climate change as "the greatest threat to our planet".

in Front of the Amazon-in-chief had already been established in other US billionaires such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates environmental foundations. Bezos is the richest man in the world, with a fortune estimated at 130 billion dollars. He is only two years with donations, similar active such as Gates or Warren Buffet. In 2018, he founded another initiative, from the 2 billion dollars of his private fortune in the opening of preschools in low-income neighborhoods of U.S. cities fins. He also supported non-governmental organisations that help homeless families.

online group Amazon, it is striking, however, is the fact that he is with tax payments very economical. In 2017 and 2018, he paid in the USA, not a Cent of income taxes and was, instead, 137, respectively, 129 million US Dollar refund, even though he generated 2018, more than 11 billion profit. In 2019, the tax burden amounted to a profit of $ 13 billion then to $ 162 million, a percentage of 1.2 percent.

Of environmentalists criticized Amazon vigorously to ensure that the business activities impact the climate. These loads arise not only through shipping and deliveries – Amazon delivers, according to Bezos, more than ten billion packages in the year. The company is also with its massive data centers, a gigantic energy guzzlers.

In September, Bezos announced that his company is looking to take on climate protection at the forefront and up to the year 2040, the CO2-neutrality of reach. In the context of its commitment to the Online want to-trading giant, among other things, a 100,000-delivery-buy car with an electric drive. However, the limitation of climate-damaging gases for the group is likely to be a challenge.

From the ranks of the Amazon workforce, a criticism of the climate efforts of the group as inadequate. More than 300 people to a Blog-entry Initiative Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (Amazon-employees for climate justice) participated in January. The company was called upon to make its efforts for climate protection are significantly more ambitious than Bezos announced.