Eco-warrior or hypocrite? As Leonardo DiCaprio jets around the world partying and preaching on global warming

Being an A-list actor is an exhausting business — and Leonardo DiCaprio has a diary so full it would make a lesser playboy weep.

There are parties and premieres around the world and engagements with everyone from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the Pope.

As the Mail reported yesterday, only last week he took a day trip from France, where he was at the Cannes Film Festival, to New York, where he received a ‘green’ award.

And back again the following day.

New York to St Barts: Ringing in the New Year with pals. On a commercial flight, the 3,772 mile round-trip to the Caribbean will have released three tons of C02 per person

New York to St Barts: Ringing in the New Year with pals. On a commercial flight, the 3,772 mile round-trip to the Caribbean will have released three tons of C02 per person

LA to London: In January, the actor  takes a trip from his California home — he has two in LA, where he won Best Actor at the Golden Globes — to Britain (below) for The Revenant premiere

LA to London: In January, the actor takes a trip from his California home — he has two in LA, where he won Best Actor at the Golden Globes — to Britain (below) for The Revenant premiere

DiCaprio (here, with co-star Tom Hardy) travels to Leicester Square for The Revenant premiere on the 14th. It is a 5,441-mile trip — all flights to promote The Revenant would use a film company private jet — this time releasing around 40 tons of C02

DiCaprio (here, with co-star Tom Hardy) travels to Leicester Square for The Revenant premiere on the 14th. It is a 5,441-mile trip — all flights to promote The Revenant would use a film company private jet — this time releasing around 40 tons of C02

London to Rome: Leo headed to the Eternal City for the January 16 premiere of The Revenant, looking dapper in a dark suit and open-neck shirt. The private jet would have released around 8.4 tons of C02 for the 1,121-mile trip.

London to Rome: Leo headed to the Eternal City for the January 16 premiere of The Revenant, looking dapper in a dark suit and open-neck shirt. The private jet would have released around 8.4 tons of C02 for the 1,121-mile trip.

Rome to Paris: Accompanied by his mother Irmelin Indenbirkin, DiCaprio then flies from the Italian capital to the French capital, on a private jet courtesy of the film studio, in time for the January 18 Paris premiere of the movie. The 881-mile trip would have released approximately 7.2 tons of C02.

Rome to Paris: Accompanied by his mother Irmelin Indenbirkin, DiCaprio then flies from the Italian capital to the French capital, on a private jet courtesy of the film studio, in time for the January 18 Paris premiere of the movie. The 881-mile trip would have released approximately 7.2 tons of C02.

Paris to Davos: Next is a short 514-mile hop from Paris to Davos, Switzerland, on January 19. It is the World Economic Forum annual meeting and Leo, pictured with Will.i.am, gives a speech accusing the oil industry of greed. A commercial flight would have released 0.3 tons of C02.

Paris to Davos: Next is a short 514-mile hop from Paris to Davos, Switzerland, on January 19. It is the World Economic Forum annual meeting and Leo, pictured with Will.i.am, gives a speech accusing the oil industry of greed. A commercial flight would have released 0.3 tons of C02.

The round trip of 7,942 miles was reportedly completed by private jet — a notoriously environmentally unfriendly way to travel.

It is rather embarrassing for DiCaprio, 41, as he used his Oscar acceptance speech in February to demand action on climate change.

His charitable foundation recently pledged £10 million for various green projects. He sits on the boards of two eco pressure groups and has made his own environmental documentary — The 11th Hour, which sank like a stone at the box office. However, DiCaprio doesn’t always practise the carbon footprint aware lifestyle that he preaches. In the past five months alone, he has travelled at least 90,606 miles by plane in 18 separate trips. Where private jets are used, the carbon dioxide emitted goes up hugely — between seven and 20 times, depending on the plane.

Switzerland to LA: He returns home to Los Angeles where he is seen nightclubbing on January 23. It’s a 5,987-mile trip releasing 5.4 tons of C02 if he flew commercially.

Switzerland to LA: He returns home to Los Angeles where he is seen nightclubbing on January 23. It’s a 5,987-mile trip releasing 5.4 tons of C02 if he flew commercially.

LA to Mexico: A journey down to Mexico for yet another premiere of The Revenant on January 26. The 3,016 mile round trip by private jet from LA would have released about 37.2 tons of C02.

LA to Mexico: A journey down to Mexico for yet another premiere of The Revenant on January 26. The 3,016 mile round trip by private jet from LA would have released about 37.2 tons of C02.

LA to Rome: By January 28, after an exhausting month, Leo’s back in Rome for a private audience with the Pope. Assuming he flew commercial, the 12,666 mile round trip from LA would have emitted 11.7 tons of C02.

LA to Rome: By January 28, after an exhausting month, Leo’s back in Rome for a private audience with the Pope. Assuming he flew commercial, the 12,666 mile round trip from LA would have emitted 11.7 tons of C02.

It can be estimated that DiCaprio has potentially emitted up to 418.4 tons of C02 this year because of his globe-trotting. The average American emits 19 tons a year.

Leo has a bit of a private jet habit. In 2014, emails hacked from film studio Sony revealed the Titanic star took six private flights in just six weeks, which cost £138,000, though a friend insists most of his flights were commercial.

The actor’s publicist Ken Sunshine told me: ‘If you understood the time and effort Leonardo DiCaprio has devoted to his philanthropic and enviro efforts, you would be ashamed to print these half-truths and lies.’

So what is the truth about Leo and his travels?

  • We used the myclimate.org calculator. It presumes commercial flights are fully-loaded and we multiplied by an average factor of 12 to estimate the carbon footprint of all private jet flights. It’s unclear who shared any of the private flights, so our figures are calculated as if he was flying alone. 
LA to New York: From Los Angeles, where he has been at an Academy Awards lunch with Brie Larson, to New York on February 10

LA to New York: From Los Angeles, where he has been at an Academy Awards lunch with Brie Larson, to New York on February 10

In New York he is one of the guests at a charity gala dinner the same night alongside fellow Oscar-winner Robert de Niro. Flying commercial, the trip of 2,766 miles gives off 2.2 tons of C02

In New York he is one of the guests at a charity gala dinner the same night alongside fellow Oscar-winner Robert de Niro. Flying commercial, the trip of 2,766 miles gives off 2.2 tons of C02

New York to London: DiCaprio is banging the drum for The Revenant at the Baftas in London on February 14, where he wins another Best Actor gong. From New York it is a round-trip of 6,848 miles, by private jet — emitting around 74.4 tons of C02

New York to London: DiCaprio is banging the drum for The Revenant at the Baftas in London on February 14, where he wins another Best Actor gong. From New York it is a round-trip of 6,848 miles, by private jet — emitting around 74.4 tons of C02

New York to LA: Good news! On February 28, Leo wins his first Oscar after six previous nominations. He must have travelled from New York to LA for the awards, which is a 2,766-mile trip giving off 2.2 tons of C02 on a commercial flight

New York to LA: Good news! On February 28, Leo wins his first Oscar after six previous nominations. He must have travelled from New York to LA for the awards, which is a 2,766-mile trip giving off 2.2 tons of C02 on a commercial flight

LA to Las Vegas: Fun in Nevada for DiCaprio, who attends a mixed martial arts fighting event here on March 5. Assuming he took a commercial flight this time, the 540-mile round trip would give off 0.6 tons of C02 per person

LA to Las Vegas: Fun in Nevada for DiCaprio, who attends a mixed martial arts fighting event here on March 5. Assuming he took a commercial flight this time, the 540-mile round trip would give off 0.6 tons of C02 per person

LA to Tokyo: The long-haul travel resumes as he flies to Japan for the premiere of The Revenant on March 23. Again, it would be standard for the film company to pay for him to make the 10,956 mile return journey by private jet, a C02 emission of 118 tons

LA to Tokyo: The long-haul travel resumes as he flies to Japan for the premiere of The Revenant on March 23. Again, it would be standard for the film company to pay for him to make the 10,956 mile return journey by private jet, a C02 emission of 118 tons

Tokyo to Indonesia: Leo takes a break to see the work done with orangutans in Indonesia by conservation charities. It is a 7,190 round-trip from Tokyo to Jakarta — if flying by commercial jet this would lead to the emission of 6.4 tons of C02

Tokyo to Indonesia: Leo takes a break to see the work done with orangutans in Indonesia by conservation charities. It is a 7,190 round-trip from Tokyo to Jakarta — if flying by commercial jet this would lead to the emission of 6.4 tons of C02

LA to New York: A trip from LA, where he has been enjoying the trendy Coachella music festival, to New York where he has a private meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 22. It’s a round-trip of 5,532 miles resulting in 4.4 tons of C02 emissions

LA to New York: A trip from LA, where he has been enjoying the trendy Coachella music festival, to New York where he has a private meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 22. It’s a round-trip of 5,532 miles resulting in 4.4 tons of C02 emissions

LA to Las Vegas: Another short hop to Las Vegas, this time to attend the 21st birthday party of model Gigi Hadid, left, on May 1. A round-trip of 540 miles producing 0.6 tons of carbon emissions if he flew commercial

LA to Las Vegas: Another short hop to Las Vegas, this time to attend the 21st birthday party of model Gigi Hadid, left, on May 1. A round-trip of 540 miles producing 0.6 tons of carbon emissions if he flew commercial

LA to Cannes: At the Cannes film festival, where Leo was spotted on May 16 partying with model Georgia Fowler. A round-trip of 12,128 miles to Nice, giving a C02 emission of 11.2 tons, if he travelled on a commercial airliner

LA to Cannes: At the Cannes film festival, where Leo was spotted on May 16 partying with model Georgia Fowler. A round-trip of 12,128 miles to Nice, giving a C02 emission of 11.2 tons, if he travelled on a commercial airliner

Cannes to New York: A side trip to New York and back, allegedly with a private jet both ways, on May 18. He was honoured at the Riverkeeper Fishermen’s Ball, a clean-water campaign group, and was back in France by May 19 where he gave a speech at the Aids research Amfar charity party

Cannes to New York: A side trip to New York and back, allegedly with a private jet both ways, on May 18. He was honoured at the Riverkeeper Fishermen’s Ball, a clean-water campaign group, and was back in France by May 19 where he gave a speech at the Aids research Amfar charity party

New York to Cannes: A source close to DiCaprio said: ‘He did not book any flights. They were flights already planned — he hitched a ride. It was the only way for him to attend both events.’ By private jet, the 7,942-mile round trip will emit 85.2 tons of carbon

New York to Cannes: A source close to DiCaprio said: ‘He did not book any flights. They were flights already planned — he hitched a ride. It was the only way for him to attend both events.’ By private jet, the 7,942-mile round trip will emit 85.2 tons of carbon

 

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