The Bezos Earth Fund has announced pledges totaling $203.7 million in support of nonprofits working to advance climate justice, advocate for climate-smart economic recovery, and spur innovation in decarbonization pathways.

Launched in February 2020 with a $10 billion commitment from Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, the fund will award $73.7 million in immediate donations to twelve organizations and $130 million by the end of 2021 to organizations supporting the Justice40 Initiative — a U.S. government effort announced in January 2021 to deliver at least 40 percent of the benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. Four climate justice groups were awarded grants totaling $20 million — the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice ($4 million), the Partnership for Southern Equity ($6 million), the Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University ($4 million), and WE ACT for Environmental Justice ($6 million) — in support of their efforts to increase community access to the Justice40 decision-making process, encourage frontline organizations to apply for funding, help monitor implementation of Justice40, and expand a partnership with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across twelve Southern states.

The fund also awarded $15 million to Climate Power and $5 million to the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund to help present an accurate narrative on the impacts of smart action against climate change, which are positively linked to job creation, health, and well-being. Another $28 million in grants will support efforts by three organizations to spur innovation in decarbonization pathways — Ceres Net Zero Finance Initiative ($3 million), Mission Possible Partnership ($7 million), and Science Based Targets.

In addition, the Earthshot Prize was awarded $4.2 million to discover, spotlight, and scale solutions to the world's greatest environmental challenges, while the National Geographic Society and Campaign for Nature will receive $1.5 million in support of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of sixty-seven countries committed to protecting 30 percent of the planet's land and seas by 2030.

"This funding is just the next step in the Bezos Earth Fund's commitment to creating catalytic change during this decisive decade," said Bezos Earth Fund president Andrew Steer. "With each grant, we are helping organizations unblock progress and create pathways to a more sustainable future."