2023 was an important year for the green revolution. COP28 led to a new and historic, though controversial, agreement. The world was hit with a new wave of anomalous weather. But 2023 was also a year of eco-friendly celebrities leading the fight against climate change.
A handful of actors and designers won’t save us from climate change; that much is true. But celebs still hold enormous sway over our behavior, what we buy and where, and what hobbies and interests we develop.
So, here are ten green celebrities who inspired us with their sustainability projects.
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Buffalo is a well-respected actor, most famous for his roles in “Shutter Island” and “The Avengers.” But Ruffalo is also involved in a variety of sustainability projects.
Ruffalo’s activism dates back to 2011, when he co-founded The Solution Project, a “non-profit organization that funds and amplifies climate justice solutions created by frontline communities building power for an equitable and regenerative economy.”
The same year, in 2011, the actor also founded an anti-fracking project called Water Defense.
More recently, Ruffalo has been in the news for criticizing the American government for not taking action against forever chemicals. President Bident announced he would fight forever chemicals during the electoral campaign, notes Ruffalo, and reiterated a few months into office. Yet, as of February 2023, nothing had been done.
Ruffalo’s words on this speak for themselves:
“We’ve all been victims to the polluters who hid the risks of PFAS from their workers and neighbors, and the victims of the regulators looked the other way for decades. […] Take action for the people who so desperately need it — who are sick or dying have already lost loved ones.”
Shailene Woodley
In 2023, the American actress joined a Greenpeace demonstration calling for a reduction in plastic consumption. Her cooperation with Greenpeace doesn’t come as a surprise. In 2019, she was named Greenpeace Ocean Ambassador. But this isn’t the first time Woodley gave her voice to an environmental protest, nor is it the most well-known.
In 2016, she was arrested for protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. It was her arrest, together with the work of local activists, that helped turn the campaign into a national issue. The controversial oil pipeline has been active since 2017, but it’s unclear whether it will remain active for long.
Natalie Portman
👏 Ms. Natalie Portman, actor and gender equality advocate, closes the SDG Action Weekend.
💻➡️ https://t.co/duqerHejz0…#GlobalGoals pic.twitter.com/qCiNVHMjZX
— UN DESA Sustainable Development (@SustDev) September 17, 2023
World-renowned actress Natalie Portman has long advocated for the effect of private actions against climate change. Apart from that, she follows a plant-based diet because it’s the most sustainable, and only buys vintage clothes.
Recently, Portman was among the panelists at the Paris UNESCO offices announcing the first results of LVMH’s new sustainability plan. You might not know LVMH, the massive French conglomerate, but you will surely recognize some of their companies.
The LVMH’s plan will strengthen the sustainability of jewelers Bulgari and Tiffany, fashion leaders Christian Dior and Stella McCartney, and cosmetic manufacturer Sephora. But LVMH’s influence extends beyond those top brands. Thankfully, early results show promise for their sustainability plans.
But Portman’s activism isn’t limited to the environment. Chief among her sustainability efforts is her work in gender equality. Most recently, she addressed the SDG, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals agenda. In her talk, held during the SDG acceleration event in September, she urged countries to concentrate efforts to end gender-based violence.
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett is all about sustainability, with plenty of work done to raise awareness about climate change. Most recently, Blanchett took part in Prince William’s Earthshot Prize by announcing some of its winners. The star also hosts Climate of Change, a podcast on the science behind climate change.
Very recently, Blanchett co-founded the Proof of Concept Accelerator Program. The project aims to “identify filmmakers who promote the perspectives of women, trans and nonbinary people” to grant $50,000. As the name implies, this money is meant to fund a proof-of-concept short film that will eventually turn into a full feature.
Only a small portion of directors behind the highest-grossing movies are women. This program is trying to change those stats, thanks partly to Blanchett’s film production company, Dirty Films.
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Ian Somerhalder
Ian Somerhalder’s passion for the environment is no secret. The actor left his career a few years ago to run a regenerative farm. Besides his planet-friendly lifestyle, he ran the environment-focused Ian Somerhalder Foundation and participated in the climate change documentary Years of Living Dangerously.
More recently, the Vampire Diaries actor produced and narrated his documentary Common Ground. The subject, regenerative agriculture, is one close to Somerhalder’s heart.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie unveils fashion venture aimed at sustainability, assisting refugees https://t.co/oSVEDy0c1c pic.twitter.com/LrMPQhIM5h
— CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) May 17, 2023
Angelina Jolie is the last in a long line of celebrities to launch a fashion line. But unlike many of those brands, Jolie’s lineup keeps environmental sustainability in mind.
Atelier Jolie, the brand’s name, isn’t a conventional fashion brand. For one, you can’t buy any of its clothes from a website. For now, the actress describes Atelier Jolie as, first and foremost, a creative space:
“I am building a place for creative people to collaborate with a skilled and diverse family of expert tailors, pattern makers and artisans from around the world.”
The actress’ work isn’t limited to the environment. A United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 2001, Jolie has been involved in humanitarian advocacy for years.
Stella McCartney
STELLA'S SUSTAINABLE MARKET: The iconic #CateBlanchett and Stella at our #StellaSummer24 runway show.#StellaMcCartney #PFW #StellasSustainableMarket pic.twitter.com/RVcbycwUOj
— Stella McCartney (@StellaMcCartney) October 4, 2023
Probably the most famous sustainability-focused designer, McCartney plans to build a more sustainable fashion industry. In a recent interview with Vogue, McCartney shared her doubts about how genuine some previously presumed sustainable fashion companies really are.
In 2023, McCartney launched her line’s first fully circular garment: the Close-the-Loop Parka. This parka is entirely recycled, recyclable, and made from a special regenerated nylon, Econyl. The sustainable material will surely make a bright addition to McCartney’s sustainable fashion line.
McCartney also participated in creating the Collab SOS fund, which invests in innovative, sustainable, and stylish startups.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio has been promoting climate activism for a long time. In fact, he’s been fighting global warming since 1998, when he founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. But there’s another reason he’s now one of the most important eco-celebrities on this list.
The star was voted as the most trusted authority on climate change. It goes without saying that the most influential celebrity climate activist is also the most likely to turn his activism into action. This reputation is well earned: DiCaprio’s environmentalist roots go back a long way.
In 2014, the award-winning actor was named Messanger of Peace by the United Nations, who praised his fight against climate change. In fact, DiCaprio is a board member of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Pristine Seas organization, among others.
Prince William
While referring to the Prince of Wales as a green celebrity might sound weird, leaving William out of this list would be wrong. Like every year, the prince continued to fund the Earthshot Prize Foundation, which supports sustainable investments in new technologies.
This year’s Earthshot winners include GRST, a producer of an innovative alternative to lithium batteries. Other winners include makers of alternatives to plastic packaging, low-polluting alternatives to wooden and coal stoves, and a project to restore the forests of the Andes.
James Cameron
From the set of the sequels: @JimCameron studies the High Camp Bio Lab set before that day’s filming. pic.twitter.com/iPQ3miInF4
— Avatar (@officialavatar) August 12, 2020
After the success of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the award-winning director was named in Time Magazine’s Time100 Climate 2023. The magazine highlights the directors’ work on making film production more sustainable. It also mentions the environmentalist themes common in his movies.
Cameron has long been advocating for plant-based diets. He’s a vegan himself and only serves plant-based food on the set of his movies. Recently, he’s gone one step further, ensuring that the entire production of “Avatar: The Way of Water” is powered by solar energy.
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To read more about eco-friendly celebrities and their lifestyles, click here.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: Leonardo DiCaprio, Actor, UN Messenger of Peace and one of the 10 eco-friendly celebrities featured in this article, addresses the opening of the UN Climate Summit 2014. Also pictured (top, from left): Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly; Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; and Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Planning. September 23, 2014, United Nations, New York. Featured Photo Credit: United Nations Photo.
