EXCLUSIVE: Who cares if Leonardo DiCaprio is using private jets while he lectures us on saving the environment says Felicity Huffman - 'he's doing great work!'

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Actress Felicity Huffman has defended fellow environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio's expensive travel habits, saying 'Who cares?' about his avid private jet use.

Former Desperate Housewives star Huffman said that DiCaprio's passion for green initiatives outweighs his use of private jets and super yachts.

DiCaprio, who once said that climate change was the 'most urgent threat facing our entire species', has been repeatedly criticized for his use of such environmentally unfriendly ways of travel.

But Huffman, 55, has hit back at DiCaprio's haters, insisting his good deeds outweigh the downsides.   

Former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman (left with William H Macey) has defended fellow environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio's expensive travel habits

DiCaprio, who once said that climate change was the 'most urgent threat facing our entire species', has been repeatedly criticized for his use of private jets and super yachts

Huffman's husband, Oscar nominee and Emmy winner, William H Macey also spoke on how stars simply spending less money in their lives will have little affect the environment. 

Macey also appeared to take a swipe at President Donald Trump's stance on the environment, saying that climate change and global warming are as serious as scientists predict. 

The superstar couple spoke at the the UCLA Presents the 2018 Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) Gala Red Carpet in Los Angeles.

Huffman said: 'I think Leonardo Di Caprio has probably done more for the environment than anyone. Does he fly privately? Probably but who cares? But he is doing amazing work, and really getting the message out there.'

Macey said that Hollywood studios at this stage should not insert environmental themes into their blockbusters or projects: 'We make movies. Our job is not to make education films. We make movies,

'I think it is too much to ask movies to have an environmental theme in them. I think you are mixing apples and oranges. People in Hollywood are pretty environmentally savvey - people I know.'

Macey added that everyone - stars and non-celebrities - should not look at being greener in their lifestyles as simply cutting back on their spending.

DiCaprio has himself admitted that 'my footprint is probably a lot bigger than most people's' and questioned his 'responsibilities' about his lifestyle. He's pictured above with Robert De Niro and John Travolta arriving at Skiathos Island in Greece in 2012

In July 2015, DiCaprio (pictured on a boat with pals in Italy in 2010) was lambasted for spending a week lounging on his superyacht in the Mediterranean, just after receiving another environmental accolade

DiCaprio is pictured above, third from left, at North Cove Marina at Brookfield Place in New York City in July 2017

Asked whether Hollywood's public image as stars living 'baller lifestyles' sent out the right message, he reacted: 'I think a lot of the answers are not necessarily just austerity - do with less. We have to be smart about it.

'My father used to love to tell this story that at a point the whale oil was drying up, because of whaling expeditions there were no whales. 

'And the brightest minds at the time said well mankind is going to start having to go to bed at seven o' clock when it gets dark; and then some guy came with the electric lightbulb. We can solve anything if we work at it.'

The 68-year-old  then commented on Trump's stance that the greenhouse effect is not as significant as some may believe.

Macey said: 'I don't think we are out of the woods yet. there are a lot of people that question science; not only the science of climate change, but science.

'There are a lot of people who think they can make up their own facts. It is all black and white. I think a lot of people know what we are doing they just choose not to act on it.'

He added: 'One of the best things UCLA is doing now is they are reaching out to get diversity into the whole environmental sciences game.

'Some years go by and not one woman gets a degree in oceanography - not one. They are actively on a campaign to bring diversity to environmental studies.'

At Thursday's event Friends actress Courtney Cox agreed with Macey and Huffman, saying that Hollywood needed to be vocal about the environment.

DiCaprio is an outspoken advocate for working toward better environmental habits and reducing carbon footprints

Reflecting on the work that stars like DiCaprio do, she said: 'Celebrity can bring a voice to things that you wouldn't necessarily be able to do otherwise. So he is using his voice in a wonderful way.

'Also we are lucky enough to live in Los Angeles where this is such the forefront of our minds we have just got the Midwest and the south and everywhere in-between.'

She added: 'We are creating the mess that we are in. We need to raise the awareness as much as we can to fix the problem. That is what we do at events like this, so we can honor the people that are changing our world.'

DiCaprio has himself admitted that 'my footprint is probably a lot bigger than most people's' and questioned his 'responsibilities' about his lifestyle.

In July 2015, he was lambasted for spending a week lounging on his superyacht in the Mediterranean, just after receiving another environmental accolade.

And in 2014, emails hacked from film studio Sony revealed he took six private flights in just six weeks which cost £138,000. This travel included two round trips from Los Angeles to New York, and one from LA to Las Vegas.

In the 2016 climate change documentary Before the Flood, which aired on on the National Geographic Channel, DiCaprio reflected on his carbon footprint. 

He said: 'The U.S. has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in history. And there’s no doubt that we’ve all benefitted from fossil fuels. I know I have. 

'My footprint is probably a lot bigger than most people's. And there are times when I question, what is the right thing to do? What actions should we be taking?'

Huffman's husband, Oscar nominee and Emmy winner, William H Macey (left with Huffman) also spoke on how stars simply spending less money in their lives will have little affect the environment

He added: 'If we’re going to solve this problem we all have a responsibility to set an example. And more than that, help the developing world transition before it’s too late.'

DiCaprio has donated time, wealth and much effort into raising awareness on the issue, even doing so in his Best Actor Oscar victory speech for The Revenant.

However his critics have attacked him for extensive usage of private jets and limousines to travel around the globe for both business and pleasure.

In 2014 he famously rented the world’s fifth largest yacht, owned by a UAE oil tycoon, to watch the World Cup in Brazil.

He has vacationed in regions and resorts which have not managed to introduce cutting edge environmentally friendly services.

Just a month ago DiCaprio's impact on his famous film The Beach caused a green issue.

Thai authorities closed the famous Maya Bay to the public for three months, to allow the suffering coral reef to recover.

Around 5,000 tourists a day visit Maya Bay on boats from the tourism hubs of Phuket and Krabi, contributing to 'critical' damage of the precious coral.

The UCLA Presents the 2018 Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) Gala Blue Carpet in LA was a star studded affair which included Ellen Pompeo, Laura Dern, Norman Lear and John Sally.

The event honored inspirational change-makers: Van Jones, Founder of Green For All; The Dreams Corps; Pierce Brosnan, Executive Producer of Poisoning Paradise; and Keely Shaye Brosnan, Director and Producer of Poisoning Paradise.