In addition to being a well-known Academy Award-nominated actor, Leonardo DiCaprio is an active environmentalist. So today’s announcement from the United Nations naming him a UN Messenger of Peace isn’t too surprising.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, September 15 by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
“Mr. DiCaprio is a credible voice in the environmental movement, and has a considerable platform to amplify its message,” the Secretary-General states. “I am pleased he has chosen to add his voice to UN efforts to raise awareness of the urgency and benefits of acting now to combat climate change.”
As a UN Messenger of Peace, DiCaprio will have a special focus on climate change. He has been invited to address the UN Climate Summit on September 23 at UN Headquarters in New York. The goal of this event is to bring leaders together from Government, business, finance and civil society “to promote climate action for a healthy planet, sustainable economic growth and better standards of living for all.”
DiCaprio established his own environmental foundation back in 1998. In announcing DiCaprio as a Messenger of Peace, the Secretary-General praised the work accomplished through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, as well as DiCaprio’s long history of fighting for environmental causes.
“It’s an honor to accept the role of UN Messenger of Peace on Climate Change and to support the Secretary General in his efforts to address one of the most important issues we face as a global community,” says DiCaprio. “I feel a moral obligation to speak out at this key moment in human history — it is a moment for action. How we respond to the climate crisis in the coming years will likely determine the fate of humanity and our planet.”
The UN ascribes the “Messenger of Peace” title to “distinguished individuals, carefully selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the United Nations,” according to the organization’s website.
Michael Douglas and Charlize Theron are two other actors among the ranks of the Messengers of Peace.
