Amazon is taking bold steps to achieve net zero by leveraging a range of nature-based solutions to complement its broader decarbonisation strategy. The company, co-founder of The Climate Pledge, has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its global operations by 2040. This commitment aligns with global efforts to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement, and Amazon has placed nature-based solutions at the heart of its strategy to neutralise emissions that cannot be reduced through conventional means.
The vibrant biodiversity of Amazon Spheres' Living Wall, where over 25,000 plants create stunning living walls that showcase more than 200 species from the world's cloud forests. Source: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/bringing-the-spheres-green-walls-to-life
Amazon has matched 100% of the electricity it consumes with renewable energy as of 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. This achievement reinforces the company’s leadership in the renewable energy sector, having maintained its position as the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for four consecutive years. However, Amazon recognises that reducing its Scope 2 emissions—those associated with purchased electricity—is only part of the solution. It has invested in nature-based carbon removal projects to offset emissions that remain intractable even after decarbonisation efforts.
One of the company’s flagship nature-based initiatives is the LEAF Coalition (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance), which Amazon helped establish in 2021. This public-private partnership has already mobilised over $1 billion to protect tropical rainforests, one of the most critical natural ecosystems for carbon sequestration. Tropical deforestation, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), contributes nearly one-fifth of global emissions, making these forests essential to any long-term carbon mitigation strategy. Through the LEAF Coalition, Amazon is working with multiple countries—including Ecuador, Costa Rica, Ghana, Vietnam, and several Brazilian states—to ensure their rainforests remain protected.
Beyond conservation, Amazon is deeply involved in the restoration of degraded landscapes. By working with smallholder farmers, Amazon’s projects promote sustainable agriculture while sequestering carbon. These efforts have the dual benefit of improving local livelihoods and capturing carbon from the atmosphere. Restoration projects not only trap carbon but also foster biodiversity and provide sustainable income from high-value crops such as cocoa and citrus. Through its ABACUS standard, Amazon is advancing new ways to measure the carbon benefits of these restoration projects, ensuring the outcomes are quantifiable and reliable.
In addition to its restoration and conservation work, Amazon has set aside $100 million through its Right Now Climate Fund. This philanthropic initiative focuses on restoring forests, wetlands, and grasslands around the world, with a particular emphasis on community-driven projects that enhance biodiversity, create green spaces and limit the effects of environmental instability. These projects serve as an extension of Amazon’s nature-based work, going beyond the measures it takes within its operational scope to drive broader global change.
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Amazon is also investing in sustainable technologies that support its nature-based and carbon-neutral efforts. Through its $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund, the company has committed to funding innovations in energy storage, low-carbon transportation, and carbon capture technologies. These investments not only help Amazon meet its ambitious sustainability goals but also create new pathways for other businesses to adopt clean technologies.
The company's operational strategy focuses on reducing emissions across every part of its value chain. From transitioning to electric delivery vehicles and biofuel-powered ocean cargo ships to using sustainable construction materials in its fulfilment and data centres, Amazon is implementing decarbonisation strategies at every level. The result is a reduction in the company's absolute carbon emissions by 3% year-over-year as of 2022, while delivering over 680 million packages with electric vehicles globally.
Amazon’s vision for a sustainable future isn’t limited to carbon-neutral operations. It believes that businesses have a responsibility to transform industries and societies by championing environmental action. This belief is why Amazon has focused on not only reducing its own emissions but also encouraging more than 500 other companies to join The Climate Pledge. Together, these companies are aiming to create a future where net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 are not just aspirational but achievable.
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Amazon’s Wild Carbon programme is a prime example of how the company integrates nature-based solutions with community-focused efforts. As part of its $15 million fund for the Asia-Pacific region, Amazon has pledged $3 million towards conservation projects in India’s Western Ghats. Through collaboration with the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), this initiative aims to support 10,000 farmers in cultivating one million trees, restoring biodiversity and providing sustainable livelihoods. This programme also reflects Amazon’s broader commitment to addressing climate vulnerabilities in regions like APAC, while contributing to long-term ecosystem health.
In another significant move, Amazon has joined forces with five major companies to pledge $180 million toward the preservation of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil’s Para state. The carbon credits generated through this initiative will be acquired via the LEAF Coalition, a global forest conservation platform co-founded by Amazon. This deal, announced during New York Climate Week, aims to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable land use, benefitting local communities, including Indigenous populations. The agreement underscores Amazon’s leadership in protecting vital ecosystems while driving global carbon reduction efforts.
Amazon leads $180M carbon credit pledge to protect Brazilian rainforest
Amazon, along with five corporate partners, has pledged $180 million to purchase carbon credits aimed at preserving Brazil’s Para state within the Amazon Rainforest. The credits will be acquired through the LEAF Coalition—a global forest conservation platform co-founded by Amazon—and mark the coalition’s first major agreement in the Amazon biome.
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The initiative will secure 5 million carbon credits over the next three years, with an additional 7 million available to other buyers. Funds from the deal will support local communities, Indigenous peoples, and small farmers, while helping curb deforestation and biodiversity loss. With credits priced above average market rates, the agreement prioritises impact and equity, reinforcing Amazon’s leadership in scaling high-integrity nature-based solutions.
Amazon joins call for higher standards in carbon offsetting
Amazon has teamed up with Microsoft and ExxonMobil to spearhead a new initiative aimed at improving credibility and accountability in the voluntary carbon market. As part of a broader coalition under the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Voluntary Carbon Market Task Force, the group is working to develop a new certification system, tentatively called ‘Carbon Star’, to standardise quality benchmarks across carbon offset projects.
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With criticism mounting over the effectiveness and transparency of some carbon credits, this effort proposes enhanced verification, monitoring, and supply chain transparency. Amazon’s involvement signals a shift in corporate strategy, moving from passive credit purchases to active market shaping. By supporting stronger governance frameworks, Amazon is helping to build trust and resilience in the carbon markets it relies on to meet its net-zero 2040 target.
Amazon launches Sustainability Exchange to boost access to quality carbon credits
Amazon has unveiled a new service through its Sustainability Exchange platform, giving Climate Pledge signatories, suppliers, and US-based business customers vetted access to high-integrity carbon credits. The initiative is part of Amazon’s strategy to scale credible carbon removal alongside its broader 2040 net-zero commitment.
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Participants must meet strict eligibility criteria, including science-based net-zero targets and transparent reporting on emissions. The credits available include nature-based solutions such as forest restoration and avoided deforestation. By curating trusted projects and setting high standards, Amazon aims to rebuild confidence in voluntary carbon markets and accelerate decarbonisation for the private sector. Early adopters include companies like Steelcase, Slalom, and Corsair, underscoring demand for trusted, scalable environmental action.
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These initiatives form part of Amazon’s broader environmental strategy, which is rooted in its Climate Pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. By investing in both carbon credits and nature-based solutions, Amazon is taking concrete steps toward long-term conservation and climate resilience. These projects not only protect critical ecosystems but also ensure that local communities play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity, making them a model for sustainable corporate responsibility.
Nature-based solutions play a crucial role in addressing the emissions that cannot be eliminated through conventional decarbonisation methods. By investing in conservation, restoration, and the development of sustainable technologies, Amazon is demonstrating how the world’s largest corporations can drive global environmental initiatives. The company’s efforts to restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and engage with smallholder farmers showcase the potential of nature-based solutions to create a more sustainable world.
At DGB Group, we share Amazon’s belief in the power of nature-based solutions. Our nature-based projects are designed to mitigate carbon emissions while restoring ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and improving livelihoods for local communities. If your organisation is seeking a way to make a positive impact on both the planet and your carbon footprint, discover how DGB’s nature-based solutions can help you meet your sustainability goals. Together, we can build a greener, more resilient future for all.
