Is Leonardo DiCaprio Actually Eco-Conscious?
Sure, he donates to some of his multi hundred-million-dollar net worth to environmental organizations, but what other ways has this American actor, producer, and philanthropist helped climate change?
It’s typical for American celebrities to support causes solely through monetary donations.
Despite their claims to hold high value for the organization, lifestyle changes are rarely made. This is not the case with the Academy Award winner, Leonardo DiCaprio.
DiCaprio’s passion for environmental protection is evident in his acceptance speech after he won his first Oscar in 2016. At this point in time, he was a board member of the World Wildlife Fund and named a Messenger of Peace with a special focus on climate change by the United Nations.
But his activism doesn’t begin there. When he was just 24 years old, DiCaprio began a nonprofit to support organizations and projects that combat climate change, protect wildlife, and preserve threatened ecosystems. Since its creation in 1998, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has funded over 200 projects and raised nearly $100 million dollars.
This money translates to grants given to 132 causes across 50 countries in collaboration with over 65 partner organizations. It’s one of the largest environmental nonprofit foundations that focuses on a wide range of Earth activism like marine conservation, renewable energy, and Indigenous Rights.
But one note, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is a donor-advised fund; a type of charity that allows the contributor a tax deduction and one that is not required to file disclosures about how the donations are spent.
Watchdog groups have determined LDF does not provide financial statements permitting the public records of revenues, expenditures, and disbursements. When DiCaprio was questioned on this activity by Philanthropy News Digest, he declined to answer. So really, all we can do is take his word for it and hope his environmentalist attitudes are not just… an act.
However, we can assume DiCaprio upholds a plant-based diet. Besides partnering with numerous vegan brands like Beyond Meat, Califia Farms, and HIPPEAS, he’s produced various films and documentaries exposing the detrimental effects of the farming industry.
In 2014, DiCaprio took Cowspiracy to Netflix, a documentary focusing on animal agriculture and the environment. The film discusses the industry’s need to keep animal farming’s true impact on climate hidden from the public.
After producing this film with director Keegan Kuhn, DiCaprio had given up beef but is now presumed to be fully vegan despite never publicly disclosing this. Moby, a vegan singer exposed DiCaprio in a 2019 interview with The Spectator as he playfully called him a “bold-face vegan.”
We think if he really is vegan, the credibility of his foundation undoubtedly rises.
DiCaprio has been accused of being an “eco-hypocrite” due to his frequent use of private jets and superyachts. And rightfully so, how environmentally mindful can you really be if partake in such gluttonous acts?
Last year, he attempted to clean up his eco-image by taking a commercial flight to attend COP26 in Glasgow. But it’s possible this was just a publicity stunt to appease critics.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s contribution to environmental preservation is mostly uncharted. Even his foundation devoted to combating climate change among other eco-centered causes isn’t entirely transparent of its operations. We can only hope he leads an honest life for the sake of humanity and our planet.
Author: Rachel Cross
Born in Rhode Island, Rachel is based in New York City where she studies Advertising & Marketing Communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her passion for effectual writing and love of fashion drew Rachel to Impakter. As an eco-lifestyle columnist, she covers a variety of topics including fashion and beauty, food and drinks, pets, and travel.
Credits: Impakter.com
Note: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Deeping