The Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon designated the Academy Award-nominated actor and committed environmental activist earlier last week as a MOP (Messenger of Peace) with a special focus on climate change.
Speaking to reporters, DiCaprio said :
“This is no small task as we all know it’s going to have to involve the largest movement – I think as we were discussing – in human history, but we are at a pivotal turning point. We are seeing the effects of rapid climate change happening every week in the news.”
“To be bestowed this honor to be able to speak and have a public forum representing a concerned citizen about such an incredibly important issue, like I said, it’s not only humbling, but I hope to serve this position well and I look forward to speaking on Tuesday.”
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the press
“The reason why I am standing with Mr. DiCaprio is that I want him to use his power to cool this rising global temperature. We need to cool down this burning global temperature. Our planet Earth is small, is now burning, we have to use his global reach and powerful voices.”
“This climate change is a defining issue of our time. We have to address this one. There is no time to lose. The longer we delay our action, the more we will have to pay.”
DiCaprio has a longstanding commitment to fighting for environmental causes, not least the substantial funds raised and generous grants provided to environmental protection and conservation projects through his foundation.
Since that time he has worked on some of the most pressing environmental and humanitarian issues of our day. Through grant making, public campaigning and media projects, he has brought attention and needed funding to three focus areas — protecting biodiversity, ocean and forest conservation, and climate change.
Source: UNTV and Photo by Luiz Rampelotto/EuropaNewswire