Amazon, one of the leading e-commerce players, has announced an initial investment of US$ 3 million in nature-based initiatives in India. This forms part of its US$ 15 million fund designated for projects in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The company’s endeavor aligns with its commitment to support and promote conservation efforts globally.
In collaboration with the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Amazon will kickstart its first project in the Western Ghats, an area that harbors more than 30% of India’s diverse wildlife, including the world’s largest populations of wild Asiatic elephants and tigers. The initiative, titled the “Wild Carbon” program, aims to assist and empower local communities while encouraging environmental conservation.
Under the program, Amazon will offer US$ 1 million to CWS to support the planting and nurturing of one million fruit-bearing, wood, and medicinal trees. This support will benefit around 10,000 farmers who will actively participate in safeguarding the Western Ghats’ delicate ecosystem.
According to Kara Hurst, Amazon’s Global Vice President (VP) for Sustainability, in order to protect the region from the impacts of climate change and preserve biodiversity, the company needs both large-scale and local action investments.
The US$ 15 million allocation stems from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, a fund of US$ 100 million established in 2019 with the aim of promoting initiatives that support environmental restoration and conservation. These initiatives aim to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience, while simultaneously generating social and environmental benefits in the areas where Amazon operates.
In 2019, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge, committing to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. The Pledge has gained significant traction, with over 400 signatories spanning 55 industries and 38 countries, including nine esteemed Indian companies such as BluPine Energy, CSM Technologies India, Godi, Greenko, HCL, Infosys, Mahindra Logistics, Tech Mahindra, and UPL.
Amazon has recently made an exciting announcement, signaling the commencement of six large- scale projects in India for 2022. The corporation is confident in their ability to power all of their global operations with renewable energy by 2025, surpassing their original target of achieving this milestone by 2030. These projects encompass an impressive 920 megawatts of renewable energy capacity and consist of three wind-solar hybrid projects in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, alongside three solar farms in Rajasthan.
Furthermore, Amazon India has committed to enhancing its delivery fleet by incorporating 10,000 electric vehicles by 2025. This progressive step aligns with their overarching vision of sustainability and demonstrates their dedication to reducing carbon emissions.
The support of Amazon helps to plan and build a program that is self-sustaining in the long term. The farmers will receive upfront support to select tree types that serve both their livelihoods and the wildlife, whilst also receiving technical assistance, agroforestry training, and support for replanting failed saplings, says Ms. Krithi Karanth, Executive Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies.
In 2019, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge, committing to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. The Pledge has gained significant traction, with over 400 signatories spanning 55 industries and 38 countries, including nine esteemed Indian companies such as BluPine Energy, CSM Technologies India, Godi, Greenko, HCL, Infosys, Mahindra Logistics, Tech Mahindra, and UPL.
Amazon has recently made an exciting announcement, signaling the commencement of six large- scale projects in India for 2022. The corporation is confident in their ability to power all of their global operations with renewable energy by 2025, surpassing their original target of achieving this milestone by 2030. These projects encompass an impressive 920 megawatts of renewable energy capacity and consist of three wind-solar hybrid projects in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, alongside three solar farms in Rajasthan.
