The initiative focuses on carbon sequestration, farmers’ livelihoods and wildlife conservation.
Amazon is directing US$15 million towards nature-based initiatives in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region from its US$100 million Right Now Climate Fund. Established in 2019, the fund aims to bolster climate resilience and biodiversity and positively impact communities where Amazon has a footprint.
The APAC region, characterized by its vast forests and coastal habitats, faces severe challenges due to climate change, biodiversity depletion and land degradation. Kara Hurst, Amazon’s Global VP for Sustainability, highlighted the necessity of large-scale and localized efforts to mitigate these challenges.
Amazon’s initiatives in India: The “Wild Carbon” program
Amazon’s initial US$3 million from this fund will support projects in India, focusing on the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In collaboration with the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Amazon aims to plant 300,000 trees over three years. This move will not only create carbon sinks but also benefit livelihoods and wildlife conservation in a region that shelters over 30% of India’s wildlife species, such as wild Asian elephants and tigers. A significant US$1 million will be used to launch the “Wild Carbon” program with CWS. This initiative aspires to support 10,000 farmers in planting a combination of fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal trees.
“We have designed the Wild Carbon program with an unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation and also poverty alleviation through livelihood support. By partnering with and incentivizing farmers to be part of the solution, we will be able to facilitate buffer habitats for tigers, elephants and other endangered species,” said CWS Executive Director Dr. Krithi Karanth.
Further collaborations and monitoring mechanisms
Additionally, CWS, with Amazon’s backing, plans to collaborate with 2,000 family farms, creating natural buffers to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. These farms will be equipped with trees that yield higher economic value than traditional crops. To ensure the project’s success, CWS intends to deploy advanced monitoring systems, such as drones and remote sensing tech. These efforts will advance research on the potential positive impact of farmers on reforestation opportunities.
Dr. Karanth expressed gratitude for Amazon’s involvement, emphasizing the sustainable nature of the program. Farmers will receive guidance on tree selection, technical support and training, ensuring a harmonious relationship between their needs and the environment.
Selection criteria for RNCF and future plans
Projects under the Right Now Climate Fund are chosen based on their tangible environmental benefits and positive impact on communities. Amazon will disclose more investments in the APAC region in the forthcoming months.
Amazon’s broader sustainability commitment
Amazon’s recent allocation aligns with its larger sustainability ambitions in APAC. In 2019, Amazon was instrumental in forming The Climate Pledge, targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade before the Paris Agreement deadline.
This pledge has seen global support, with over 400 signatories across 55 industries and 38 countries joining hands-on initiatives that protect the environment and promote decarbonizing technologies. Many Indian companies, including BluPine Energy, CSM Technologies India, Godi, Greenko, HCL, Infosys, Mahindra Logistics, Tech Mahindra and UPL, have already joined The Pledge.
Further cementing its commitment, Amazon has unveiled six large-scale renewable energy initiatives in India, with the objective of powering its global operations entirely with renewable energy by 2025. This effort encompasses three wind-solar hybrid projects in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, in addition to three solar farms in Rajasthan, cumulatively contributing 920 megawatts to the renewable energy grid. Additionally, Amazon India is progressing towards its goal of integrating 10,000 electric vehicles into its delivery fleet by 2025.
Global footprint of RNCF
Amazon’s sustainability initiatives in India are part of its broader environmental activities that extend to different regions worldwide.
In 2022, Amazon collaborated with Conservation International to found the International Blue Carbon Institute in Singapore. This institute underscores the significance of “blue carbon” ecosystems—coastal and marine habitats vital for the environment—with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund has earmarked EUR20 million (approximately US$21.4 million) for environmental projects. In addition, Amazon’s conservation outreach extends to the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S. and includes collaborative efforts like The LEAF Coalition, dedicated to the preservation of tropical rainforests worldwide.
Also read:
- How Businesses Can Do Their Bit in Fighting Climate Change
- How Can AI Solve Deforestation?
- Technology in Ecosystem: How AI Optimizes Wildlife Conservation?
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