From being the UN’s messenger of peace to being vocal about climate change, the ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ actor has been contributing to projects that benefit nature, humans and the world
In the 2021 Netflix film Don’t Look Up, Leonardo DiCaprio played Dr Randall Mindy, a scientist begging the world to notice an impending natural catastrophe (which was thought to be a metaphor for climate change). In real life too, DiCaprio is equally vocal about climate change, sustainability and eco-conservation initiatives. The Oscar-winning actor has been contributing to these causes since the late ’90s, so far providing more than US$100 million grants to various programmes supporting social and environmental issues.
To celebrate his birthday on November 11, we have highlighted five times when DiCaprio raised awareness for an important cause.
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1. Founding multiple nature conservation foundations
DiCaprio is one of the founding board members of Re:Wild, which works with the Global Wildlife Conservation to protect the earth’s biodiversity. In 2021, Re:Wild helped conserve 231 million acres of land. The organisation has presence in more than 80 countries with direct conservation action for over 160 threatened species and supports an additional 30,000 species.
This isn’t his first project either—in 1998, fresh off the success of Titanic (1997), the actor set up the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to bring attention and funding to nature and marine conservation issues.