Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said on Monday that he plans to spend $US10 billion ($14.9 billion) of his own fortune to help fight climate change.

Bezos, the world's richest man, said in an Instagram post that he'll start giving grants this summer to scientists, activists and non-profits working to protect the earth.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is using his own money to launch the Earth Fund. Credit:AP

"I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change," Bezos said in the post.

Amazon, the company Bezos runs, has an enormous carbon footprint. Last year, Amazon officials said the company would work to have 100 per cent of its energy use come from solar panels and other renewable energy by 2030.