Before his involvement with his most recent film The Revenant, DiCaprio has been a long term environmentalist, a “climate change champion” as the media is currently nicknaming him. Since the 1990s, DiCaprio has steadily taught himself all about the earth’s oceans and climate change, devouring books and information in a bid to understand the issues going on around him. Those who have worked with him have said that the issue is very important to him and something that he is desperate to act on.
I didn’t think I could admire this man anymore, but upon winning an Oscar the other night, it was confirmed: Leonardo DiCaprio is simply the best.
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Everyone was rooting for DiCaprio to win an Oscar. The world was watching, waiting for his name to be called at last. I feel like there was genuine happiness for him when he went up to claim his award, completely deserving after such an amazing performance in The Revenant. That is why his moving speech about taking action with climate change is so important and so powerful: he used his acceptance speech for the best actor to grab the world’s attention and urge a global audience to reject the “politics of greed,” and support leaders willing to take action against climate change.
DiCaprio says that “Climate change is real, it is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”
Over the past few years, DiCaprio has donated at least $30 million to his foundation, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. His foundation works towards protecting biodiversity, ocean conservation, wild lands conservation and climate change.
As well as this, he has worked with many environmental organisations such as WWF and used his celebrity status to help advance the United Nations climate negotiations, help protect coral reefs and endangered animals, and spread public awareness about the dangers of climate change to humans, wildlife and the Earth.
Naturally, there are many people who are dedicated climate campaigners and wealthy individuals who donate their money to important environmental causes. But DiCaprio works at a different level – he has a way of connecting with the world and making people want to listen and want to make a change.
“There are many foundations and non-governmental organisations interested in oceans and many do great work. He has a megaphone that nobody else on the planet has. He is so respected and admired and influential all around the world from the general public to head of state, so when he says something people listen,” said Enric Sala, explorer-in-residence for National Geographic, who has worked with DiCaprio.
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