Jeff Bezos , CEO of Amazon and the world ’s rich man , has just pledge $ 10 billion to help tackle the climate crisis , one of the great threats confront humanity today . He has named the enterprise the Bezos Earth Fund and tell it will commence issuing grants to scientists , activist , and NGOs working to protect our Earth this summertime .

“ Climate variety is the self-aggrandizing scourge to our planet , ” Bezos wrote in astatementposted to Instagram . “ I desire to work alongside others both to amplify known way and to explore new way of fighting the devastating impact of mood variety on this major planet we all divvy up . ”

Bezos is worth $ 130 billion in total , so the money he is pledging is deserving about 8 percent of his wealth . At a time when the creation ’s politician are failing to play fast enough to suppress the greenhouse gas emissions that directly lead to global warming , this donation is welcome news . The money will go towards scientist study climate change and how best to tackle it , as well as activists and NGOs working to protect the environment .

“ This orbicular enterprisingness will fund scientists , militant , NGOs – any endeavor that offers a material possibility to help conserve and protect the natural earthly concern , ” Bezos wrote . “ We can keep Earth . It ’s going to take collective action from full-grown society , modest company , land country , orbicular organizations , and individuals . ”

The first few months of 2020 have served as a bleak reminder of the trouble our planet is currently in . Antarctica , known for its vast ice sheets and bitter cold   climate , has broken not one but two temperature records this month . On February 6 , scientists recorded a temperature of18.3 ° C ( 64.9 ° degree Fahrenheit ) on the Antarctic Peninsula – the red-hot temperature ever commemorate on the mainland . On February 9 , off the coast of the mainland on Seymour Island , Antarcticarose above 20 ° C(68 ° F ) for the first sentence , hitting a cracked 20.75 ° C ( 69.35 ° F ) .   A warming south magnetic pole   means melting ice sheets , which wreaks mayhem onthe wildlife relianton the ice and give to rising ocean spirit level , posing a threat to theworld ’s coastal biotic community .

And that ’s not all 2020 has bring us so far . Like something out of theBook of Exodus , anenormous plague of locusts , unlike anything go steady in late years , has been press its way through East Africa , devouring vital crops . The ravenous insects , which can eat up their weight in plant each day , are particularly legion this year thanks to recent conditions conditions link up to clime change . next warming will only make these annihilating swarms a more regular occurrence in eld to come .

Australia’saggressive firesandflash floodshave also been link to mood change , with expert warn that uttermost weather consequence like these will only be exacerbated as the planet warms .

But there is some hope . Swift policy variety that curtail our carbon paper discharge , as well as investment funds in answer to climate change , could help us extenuate the crisis before it ’s too lately .

“ Many emerging applied science , like Carbon Capture and Storage ( CCS ) , need a fiscal shot in the arm to get them surmount up fast,”saidProfessor Dave Reay , president in Carbon Management , executive manager of Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation at the University of Edinburgh , commenting on Bezos ’ annunciation . “ Other answer , like expansion of clime - voguish farming or universal waste water system treatment , may be less eye - catching but they are no less of the essence in terms of cutting emissions and providing great resilience to the impacts of mood change . ”

Imperial College London ’s Professor Richard Templar bring that we must also ferment to avoid large - scale mintage extinctions . “ Returning home ground at musical scale is important for all species , includingHomo sapiens , and has direct benefits for reducing atmospheric CO2and global heating , ” he said .

Hopefully , the Bezos Earth Fund will allow these areas with a much - need hard cash boost , helping to protect our unique planet for generations to add up . As Bezos puts it : “ Earth is the one affair we all have in vulgar – let ’s protect it , together . ”