What Leonardo DiCaprio Has to Say About Climate Change

Leonardo DiCaprio, an actor and UN Ambassador of Peace, together with Fred Krupp, US Environmental Defense executive director, both expressed their great concern over the issue of climate change in a ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, April 22. It came just as the historic Paris agreement was signed by 130 countries tackling climate change.

The Guardian reports that the signing is hosted by Ban Ki-moon, secretary general from Korea. However, this is not the first attempt to tackle the problem. Copenhagen, Kyoto and Montreal have previously held summits regarding the matter. Leaders have high hopes in the present landmark agreement believing this is the beginning of a critical breakthrough and the following five basic principles will be observed by each country represented.

1. Reducing and pricing carbon emissions

Strict limits on the standards of emission reduction must be implemented. Policies that will discourage carbon pollution such as penalizing the polluters and rewarding the institutions as well as individuals promoting clean technology.

2. Accelerating the transition to renewable energy

The introduction of clean energy gives hope that the transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy is really doable. Investments on supporting earlier transition to clean energy must be taken to concern.

3. Protecting the world's vital ecosystems

Preserving the rainforests and wild oceans will be an assurance of a well preserved future for mankind. But it means keeping the indigenous people from depending on them for a living. Livelihoods as alternative source of income must be provided for them.

4. Taking aggressive short-term action first

Ideas have widely been given energy but the speed of their implementation should be taken radically. The earlier they will be exercised, the safer future there is for people around the world.

5. Making our cities global models for sustainability

Pioneering this reason is very essential. Showing the neighboring countries that 100 percent commitment to renewable energy is possible. Cities such as Vancouver, Sydney, Stockholm, and Las Vegas have taken the step and are encouraging more cities to follow the lead.

As per Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, the actor who had been an environment enthusiast since 2014 owns a foundation which constantly supports programs for environment preservation such as the marine reserves in the Pacific. His foundation also donated three million dollars to protect tigers in Nepal and another three million dollars for the prevention of overfishing,

Both DiCaprio and Krupp support hundreds of nations in their rally to combat the effects of climate change and they both believe that the time to act is now, as MIT Energy Initiative reported.