What Leonardo DiCaprio Can Teach You About Going Green
Did you realize the Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio is worth up to $250 million?
You think Leo is only interested in making movies and living it up. That’s far from true.
The actor has spent the past couple of decades raising awareness about the catastrophic consequences of climate change.
However, he’s not only a preacher of doom! He also promotes the benefits of going green for the good of the planet and its people.
Would you like to discover what Leo can teach you about the benefits of going green? Let’s check it out!
1. Ride Your Bike
The Great Gatsby film star loves riding two wheels.
When Leo is not on a set filming his latest movie or climate change documentary, he is often spotted taking advantage of New York City’s bike-share scheme, Citi Bike.
Why don’t you ditch your car for the day and jump on a bike?
The only carbon emissions required to power your bike around town is the food you eat. That makes cycling one of the most carbon efficient modes of transport.
2. Reduce Your Beef Consumption
We don’t know for certain whether Leo is a vegan. However, he regularly promotes the benefits of a plant-based diet. He’s even invested in the Beyond Meat Vegan Burgers.
If you haven’t already seen Leo’s 2016 environmental documentary called ‘Before the Flood’, it’s a must-see for any budding climate warrior.
In the documentary, we learn that over 10 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions is due to the consumption of beef.
1/2 Lb. Burger is equal to 200 hours of 60W light bulb use or driving 24 miles in a Prius. That’s why Leo urges us to make the minor switch from beef to chicken.
Beef requires 50 times as much land compared with chicken. Therefore, Leo says by cutting the amount of beef you eat by half or a by a quarter could also make a significant difference.
Leo shows us that you don’t have to do anything radical to reduce your carbon footprint.
However, despite this, switching to a plant-based vegan or vegetarian diet is definitely the most impactful choice.
3. Switch to an Electric Vehicle
If you want to go green, switching from a gasoline-powered vehicle to electric or hybrid can significantly reduce your environmental impact.
Even though the character of Jordan Belfort in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ splashes the cash on girls and drugs, Leo chooses to spend his hard-earned dollar on alternative vehicles. Leo’s showing the way with a range of electric and hybrid vehicles.
He owns a Tesla Roadster, which reaches up to 100 km/hr in under 4 seconds. He also has the Fisker Karma, which doesn’t use any animal products in the production and featured roof-top solar panels. Leo also owns a Toyota Prius.
You don’t have to a movie star anymore to be able to afford your own electric powered vehicle. Electric car sales have grown by 72 percent in the past year and this is set to rise further in the years to come.
4. Donate or Invest for the Climate Cause
You can’t do everything on your own. What about investing your money in a sustainable start-up?
Leo invests in everything from an eco-shoe brand to a sustainable hotel chain. You can do the same!
Alternatively, you could donate a little every month to a climate or environmental charity or organization of your choice.
Since 1998, Leo launched the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and funded a number of cases and initiatives related to the environment and climate change. His organization has granted more than $30 million worth of projects across over 40 countries.
5. Educate Yourself
Leo has been educating himself since the late 1990s about climate change and sustainability.
He’s had private tutorials on climate science with some of the big hitters in climate change research.
According to Leo, he’s been interested in biodiversity since he was small. In his L.A. family home, the little Leo has a picture of Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights hanging over his crib.
In his documentaries, such as ‘Before the Flood’ and ‘The 11th Hour’, the actor has had the opportunity to visit the frontline of global warming.
By reading this article, you’re demonstrating your engagement with the benefits of going green. Keep it up!
6. Get Political!
Many of the problems of climate change can only be overcome through political change at the highest level.
That’s why it’s Leo urges his fans:
“Vote for politicians, who believe in science. Vote for the ones, who admit, that climate change is real and it is one of the main issues we need to change.”
It’s important to vote. However, Leo is also an advocate joining the many demonstrations which take place across the world. For example, Leo attended the ‘People’s Climate March‘ in 2014.
Wherever you are, make your voice heard.
7. Switch to Solar
Leo has also campaigned for switching from the dirty fossil fuels which power our homes to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
He’s partnered with Kingo to help people without power to set up off-grid rural solar panels.
Plus, during the filming of the movie ‘Inception‘, Leo convinced the movie-makers to use solar energy for the production of the movie.
The U.S. production of solar energy has increased by nearly 25 percent in the first half of 2018. The current state of growth means you can affordably and conveniently switch to a cleaner energy for your home and business.
8. Buy Green
We’re all consumers and shoppers. Now you have educated yourself in the importance of a sustainable lifestyle, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.
You can purchase eco-friendly products like Leo. From your bamboo toothbrush to an electric car, make the green choices every time.
9. Plant Some Trees
Leo has partnered with Future Forests to plant thousands of trees in Mexico. This has had an impact of offsetting up to 11 tons of CO2.
Working with Future Forests, he has planted thousands of trees, creating The Leonardo DiCaprio Forest in Mexico, to offset the estimated 11 tons of carbon dioxide he produces each year.
Whether it’s investing your money in reforesting or planting trees in your own backyard, plant some trees to offset your carbon emissions.
10. Use Your Stage to Spread the Word
Leo used his acceptance speech at the Oscars to talk about climate change.
While that was an incredibly noble and courageous thing to do, not all of us have such opportunities in life. And yet, we all have our own stage in life!
Can you talk to your family over dinner at home? Can you share a link to climate change news with friends on social media?
Make sure you take advantage of your stage to spread the word and being green.
Benefits of Going Green
Now you know how Leonardo DiCaprio can teach you about the benefits of going green, it’s time to take his advice into the world.
From purchasing an eco-wardrobe to talking to your family and friends about global warming, you can make a difference.
Discover more about climate change by checking out our blogs on educational skills and issues.