The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is “dedicated to the long-term health and well-being of all Earth’s inhabitants.” DiCaprio’s goal is to slow  down and prevent the “planetary crisis” our Earth is in, as a result of common human activities. Factors resulting from our daily actions include an exponential increase in climate change, a major loss of biodiversity, and an increase in human health problems.

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation stresses the importance of using–or switching to–renewable energy sources. Examples of this are stated on their official website and include solar, wind, and water energy sources. Switching to renewable energy sources such as these will hold many positive benefits for humans and the environment. First, making the switch will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to nearly zero, due to the reduction of fossil fuel based industries and power plants. Another benefit to renewable energy will be the prevention of four to seven million deaths and even more illnesses caused by air pollution. Also, on the contrary to many politicians’ and business owners’ thoughts, renewable energy will create over 24 million jobs, including all the jobs lost from toxic fossil fuel industries.

This form of energy will stabilize global energy prices (there is no price for the sun!), while reducing costs for consumers. This resource has the ability to improve energy access to billions of people who would usually be energy impoverished. The switch will also reduce the risk of possible terrorism and war that could be caused by large power plants and the fight for the last few drops of oil and natural gas. Leonardo DiCaprio states to the media that “Clean air, water, and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is not a question of politics, it is a question of our own survival.” It is easy to ignore and to turn backs on the idea that human actions are leading to the obliteration of Earth. However, the most horrifying fact holds true; if humans continue to live so obliviously and carelessly on Earth, their children and their grandchildren will be forced to pay the price of their mistakes. It is the human races rightful duty to keep our only resource for life a livable place.