Leonardo DiCaprio announces $20 million environmental grants
Los Angeles
September 20, 2017
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has announced that his Foundation
will give $20 million in grants to more than 100 environmentally focused
organisations.
The new grants, ranging from wildlife and habit conservation
and combating climate change to the defence of indigenous rights, increase the
organisation's total direct financial impact to over $80 million since 1998,
reports variety.com.
"These facts have been presented to the world
time-and-time again for decades. Quite simply, we are knowingly doing this to
ourselves, to our planet and to our future, and the cost of our inaction is
becoming clearer," DiCaprio said during a Yale Climate Conference hosted by John
Kerry on Tuesday.
"Yet with all of this evidence - the independent
scientific warnings, and the mounting economic price tag - there is still an
astounding level of wilful ignorance and inaction from the people who should be
doing the most to protect us, and every other living thing on this planet."
DiCaprio encouraged everyone to vote in midterm elections for political
candidates who believe that climate change is real and to support companies that
provide climate-friendly products.
The Oscar winning actor also called
for a global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
"Our challenge
is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every
individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water. We must demand
that politicians accept climate science and make bold commitments before it is
too late."
The grants were announced in six areas, including climate
change, wildlife and landscape conservation, marine life and ocean conservation,
innovative solutions, indigenous rights, and the California programme.
Los Angeles
September 20, 2017
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has announced that his Foundation
will give $20 million in grants to more than 100 environmentally focused
organisations.
The new grants, ranging from wildlife and habit conservation
and combating climate change to the defence of indigenous rights, increase the
organisation's total direct financial impact to over $80 million since 1998,
reports variety.com.
"These facts have been presented to the world
time-and-time again for decades. Quite simply, we are knowingly doing this to
ourselves, to our planet and to our future, and the cost of our inaction is
becoming clearer," DiCaprio said during a Yale Climate Conference hosted by John
Kerry on Tuesday.
"Yet with all of this evidence - the independent
scientific warnings, and the mounting economic price tag - there is still an
astounding level of wilful ignorance and inaction from the people who should be
doing the most to protect us, and every other living thing on this planet."
DiCaprio encouraged everyone to vote in midterm elections for political
candidates who believe that climate change is real and to support companies that
provide climate-friendly products.
The Oscar winning actor also called
for a global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
"Our challenge
is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every
individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water. We must demand
that politicians accept climate science and make bold commitments before it is
too late."
The grants were announced in six areas, including climate
change, wildlife and landscape conservation, marine life and ocean conservation,
innovative solutions, indigenous rights, and the California programme.
Tags: Leonardo DiCaprio