Bezos and DiCaprio’s Phoenix Species Project Sparks Green-washing Accusations

Billionaire Jeff Bezos and actor Leonardo DiCaprio announced a new charitable effort called the Phoenix Species Project, pledging millions to protect 100 of the world’s most threatened animal species across 30 countries.

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The announcement follows Bezos’s 2020 creation of the Bezos Earth Fund, a $10 billion pledge aimed at biodiversity and climate mitigation. Critics note that Amazon, the e-commerce platform Bezos founded, remains a major corporate polluter. The Journal of Political Inquiry reported that Amazon’s carbon-dioxide emissions rose 18 percent between 2020 and 2021, and that emissions have continued to climb as demand for cloud computing grows. Bezos’s aerospace venture Blue Origin is also cited for its uncertain atmospheric impacts.

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The announcement was accompanied by the following direct quotation:

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• “I could not be prouder to announce this,” — Leonardo DiCaprio

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The initiative has been met with sharp criticism. The Independent described the effort as “greenwashing,” a tactic in which wealthy individuals or corporations use limited eco-charity to mask broader environmental harms.

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These reactions illustrate a polarized public response, with supporters highlighting the potential conservation benefits while detractors question the sincerity of the donors given their environmental track records.

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