It’s always touching to see celebrities using their platform to do good in the world, whether it’s advocating for animals, championing children’s literacy or fighting climate change. Fame is a currency in today’s world, and there are plenty of causes that could use a little (or a lot) of love.
Celebrities Doing Their Part to Fight Climate Change
One of the most pressing issues of our time is climate change, which is threatening to destroy humanity as we know it if we don’t intervene — and fast. While most of the burden rests on the shoulders of the world’s biggest corporations and government bodies, some celebrities are also doing their part to help the environment and make a better home for generations to come.
Here are some of the celebrities helping to fight climate change:
1. Rihanna
Singer, entrepreneur and all-around badass Rihanna recently donated a whopping $15 million to 18 different organizations devoted to climate justice, along with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. The organizations, which Rihanna has donated to via her foundation, the Clara Lionel Foundation, are “focused on and led by women, youth, Black, Indigenous, people of color and LGBTQIA+ communities.”
2. Leonardo DiCaprio
Oscar winner and long-time Hollywood golden boy Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t just a pretty face: he’s also a major climate activist, which you likely already know if you follow him on Instagram. The star of classics like Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, and Inception, DipCaprio launched his foundation back in 1998 to “bring together the best minds in science, conservation and philanthropy to urgently respond to a growing climate crisis and the staggering loss of biodiversity threatening the stability of life on Earth.” He has also been designated as a Messenger of Peace by the U.N., and he sits on the board of several climate organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, Oceans 5 and the Natural Resources Defense Council. He was also part of the celebrity line-up in the Netflix movie Don’t Look Up, a satire of government, political and media indifference to climate change.
3. Shailene Woodley
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Actor Shailene Woodley, who has starred in Adrift, The Spectacular Now, The Fault in Our Stars, the Divergent series and Big Little Lies, is also a passionate climate activist. In 2016, she stood alongside Indigenous people to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline — getting arrested in the process. She’s also been outspoken about sustainable DIY projects such as foraging for food and even making cheese. Woodley has also participated in the Green Carpet Challenge, meaning she’s vowed to only wear sustainable and ethically made clothing to events.
4. Matt Damon
As the founder of the H20 Africa Foundation, which has now merged with Water Partners International to form water.org, actor Matt Damon has been a passionate advocate for solving the global water crisis for years. The celebrity star of Good Will Hunting and The Talented Mr. Ripley has become one of the world’s most foremost experts on the global water crisis, which has been exacerbated by climate change.
5. Jessica Alba
Since launching the Honest Company in 2015, actor Jessica Alba has become one of Hollywood’s most passionate climate activists and a face for sustainable living. The company, which offers lifestyle products in the realm of beauty, baby items and more, has committed to several eco-friendly practices like sustainable packaging and clean beauty products. Alba is also an outspoken activist for living a more conscious, sustainable lifestyle, encouraging her followers to support local and upcycle whenever possible.
Lead image credit: Matt Damon leaving the press conference for The Good Shepherd at the Hyatt Hotel in Potsdamer Platz, Berlin. Photo by Thore Siebrands (Siebbi) via Flickr.
