We all know that famous people are powerful agents of change. But in many people's view, the stereotypical celebrity is vain and self-serving, and they don't always use their power for good.
Whilst that may be true in some cases, some famous names buck that trend and use their fame and status to campaign for climate solutions.
Here are some of the most notable climate change celebrities who are currently helping to lead the fight against global warming.
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DiCaprio is a prominent star in climate activism. In 2006, he created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which focuses on promoting environmental causes and supports more than 35 conservation projects worldwide.
In 2014, he was named a United Nations "messenger of peace" representative for climate change.
In his acceptance speech at the 2016 Oscars, DiCaprio famously said “Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”
He has also spoken out about the dangers of global warming and the need to take action. In 2016, he was awarded the Crystal Award for his work in protecting the environment.
In his personal life, DiCaprio walks the walk. He has pledged to completely cut out using fossil fuels
Jane Fonda is a well-known actress and activist who has been involved in the fight against climate change for many years.
She wrote the book "What Can I Do? The Path From Climate Despair To Action" in which she discusses many ways to combat climate change including starting with small steps straightaway, reducing personal energy use through recycling, and using less heat in your home.
James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron are both very outspoken on the issue of climate change. James has produced several documentaries on the topic, including "The Age of Stupid" and "Before the Flood".
He also founded the Climate Reality Project, an organization that aims to educate people about environmentalism.
Suzy is a co-founder of the Red Carpet Green Dress Challenge, which encourages celebrities to wear sustainable fashion at award shows.
Matt Damon is probably one of the most notable names in Hollywood when it comes to environmental advocacy He has been very vocal about the issue of climate justice and has worked to raise awareness of the problem.
Damon has even partnered with Water.org to help bring clean water to developing countries. One of Damon's most notable projects is the "Live Earth" charity concerts that take place every year.
Gwyneth Paltrow has been outspoken about climate change and the need for individuals to take action to address the issue. Paltrow was one of the founders of the non-profit organization One Young World. The goal of this organization is to solve major global issues, such as energy sustainability.
She also founded "Goop", a website that provides information on how people can make better choices that benefit their health and the environment.
Paltrow created food lines that are organic, gluten-free, GMO-free, and produce that is fair trade. She has also promoted other environmental causes such as recycling, water conservation, and reducing air pollution.
Paltrow was critical of the Trump administration's stance on the climate crisis. She attended a march to protest Donald Trump's executive order to roll back Obama-era clean energy policies.
Paltrow also criticized Trump's plan to pull out of the Paris Agreement and was critical of Ivanka and Jared Kushner for their lack of action to tackle climate change.
Shailene Woodley is an American actress who rose to prominence after playing the lead role in the movie The Descendants. She also starred in the TV series Secret Life of the American Teenager and has had notable roles in other movies such as Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, Snowden and Adrift.
Woodley is also an environmental activist who has been very vocal about her environmental concerns, and the need to preserve natural resources for future generations.
In 2015, Woodley was arrested while protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. She also joined Greenpeace for an expedition to examine plastic pollution in the oceans. Shailene tries to live a more eco-friendly life by eliminating the use of single-use plastics and growing her own food.
She has also been involved in several campaigns to raise awareness about the issue, including the "Reef Restoration" campaign and the "Alliance For Climate Education". In 2014, she launched a "self-sustaining eco home" in Los Angeles.
Pearl Jam are well known for their efforts to minimize the carbon footprint of their tours and to raise awareness about global warming.
They donate a percentage of all ticket sales to climate change charities.
Robert Redford is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and the co-founder of the Sundance Institute, which helps promote independent film and theatre.
He has also founded the Natural Resources Defense Council, an organization that focuses on environmental issues. In addition, he has lent his voice to several documentaries about climate change, including "The 11th Hour" and "An Inconvenient Truth".
Pharrell Williams is one of the most well-known environmental celebrities, after founding the From One Hand to Another charity which helps provide environmental education to kids.
He's also been a vocal advocate for sustainable fashion and has even created a line of eco-friendly clothing.
Williams is also on the global advisory board as creative director of Bionic Yarn, which produces biodegradable plastics made from recycled ocean waste.
Sir David Frederick Attenborough is an English broadcaster and naturalist, and now an internationally renowned conservationist, environmentalist and climate activist.
He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural history documentary series that form the Life collection. He is also a senior vice-president of the Royal Society, president of Butterfly Conservation, and a patron of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
For many years Sir David Attenborough has spoken out about the dangers of climate change and the need for action to prevent it. He has urged world leaders to take the issue seriously and has called for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
He has also spoken in front of the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, and the United Nations. In a speech in 2021 he said that climate change is the "biggest threat to security that modern humans have ever faced".
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress, comedian, producer, and director. She is known for her roles in Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Veep.
Louis-Dreyfus has been an outspoken advocate for climate awareness and action. In 2015, she narrated the documentary Merchants of Doubt, which focused on how corporate interests have sought to mislead the public about climate change.
She has also attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris and the People's Climate March in New York City.
Thompson is an outspoken environmental advocate who has been involved with Extinction Rebellion for some time, speaking out about the need for urgent action on the climate crisis.
Thompson is also a trustee at Greenpeace. She has worked with them on the Save the Arctic campaign and also bought land in the UK to help stop the expansion of Heathrow Airport's third runway.
Jaden Smith has been outspoken about climate change and the need for action, discussing the issue in interviews and on social media. In a 2017 Twitter post, Smith wrote, "we have to save our planet. it's the only one we have."
In addition to speaking out about the issue, Smith has also put his money where his mouth is, launching a vegan clothing line called MSFTS in order to reduce his environmental impact. He is also a partner in Just Water, a company creating cheap water filtration systems for less affluent countries.
Dave Matthews Band is a group that focuses on environmental issues and raising awareness for climate change.
They have performed at numerous benefits and fundraisers to support organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund. The band has also released a song called "Don't Drink the Water" which is about the slaughter of Native Americans.
Mark Ruffalo is a well-known actor and activist who has spoken out about the dangers of climate change. He has urged world leaders to take action on the issue and to vote against natural gas and other fossil fuels. He is continuously involved in campaigns to promote renewable energy.
Ruffalo has also founded two organizations, The Solution Project and Water Defense, which aim to support sustainable climate solutions and clean water.
In 2008, Cameron Diaz hosted a documentary called 'Earthlings.' The documentary discusses many environmental issues from rainforest deforestation to water pollution.
In addition to hosting this documentary, Diaz has been an advocate against animal cruelty by encouraging people to become vegans.
Greta Thunberg is in the unique position of being famous for being an activist, rather than an already well-known celebrity. But these days, everybody knows her name.
Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who has been protesting for climate action since 2018. She started a one-person strike outside the Swedish parliament at the age of 15 and has since become a leading figure in the global youth-led environmental movement.
In 2019, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2021 she led a huge protest outside the global climate negotiations at COP26, describing the summit as a "two-week-long celebration of business as usual and blah, blah, blah" which went on to become a catchphrase aimed at politicians seen to be all talk and no action.
It's perhaps a sad reflection on our society that many people are more likely to listen to celebrities than climate scientists.
As the effects of climate change become more and more apparent, an increasing number of celebrities are speaking out about the issue.
Some have partnered with environmental organizations to help promote awareness, while others have pledged to make changes in their own lives to reduce their carbon footprints.
It’s encouraging to see so many famous faces using their platforms for good, and hopefully, their actions will inspire others to take action as well.
Images courtesy of Depositphotos
