Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos pledges £732m to help reforestation in Africa after chat with Prince Charles about the importance of trees
Prince Charles played a key role in getting Jeff Bezos to pledge £732million for land restoration in Africa, it has emerged.
At a Cop26 event alongside the Prince of Wales and French president Emmanuel Macron, the Amazon founder said he would match a previous contribution made through his Bezos Earth Fund.
The event highlighted the Great Green Wall initiative, which will plant 20million trees across the width of Africa to counter desertification on the continent.
Prince Charles played a key role in getting Jeff Bezos (both pictured having tea together in Rome on Sunday) to pledge £732million for land restoration in Africa, it has emerged
Mr Bezos said: 'We all know that this is the decisive decade, but without action, it will become the indecisive decade.
'We can't let that happen. Please consider us an ally for this important cause.'
It came after Prince Charles hosted the businessman and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, for tea and an informal chat after the G20 summit in Rome on Sunday.
Sources said the prince was 'instrumental' in bringing Mr Bezos and Mr Macron together on the issue.
At a Cop26 event alongside the Prince of Wales and French president Emmanuel Macron, the Amazon founder said he would match a past contribution made through his Bezos Earth Fund
The tycoon was criticised for flying to the summit on a private jet, two days after celebrating the 66th birthday of fellow billionaire Bill Gates aboard a superyacht.
He also drew criticism from climate activists earlier this year - and tacit disapproval from Prince William - after using a project he funded to go to space.
Yesterday, Ms Sanchez posted several pictures of the 'private' meeting on her Instagram account.
The meeting was apparently to discuss Bezos' commitment ahead of the meeting.
Bezos later tweeted: 'The Prince of Wales has been involved in fighting climate change and protecting our beautiful world far longer than most.
'We had a chance to discuss these important issues on the eve of #COP26 - looking for solutions to heal our world, and how the @BezosEarthFund can help.'
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