A true Hollywood legend, Leonardo DiCaprio rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one of America’s most promising young actors following several spellbinding performances, including those in This Boy’s Life and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Since then, the actor has taken on a diverse range of supporting and lead roles, racking up a trove of accolades.

Despite basking in the oppressive light of fame since his teen years, DiCaprio is notably down-to-earth and compassionate, especially when it comes to global political affairs. When accepting his Oscar at the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony for his leading role in The Revenant, DiCaprio took a moment to raise awareness for a topic close to his heart.

“Making The Revenant was about man’s relationship to the natural world,” DiCaprio noted at the end of his acceptance speech. “A world that we collectively felt in 2015 as the hottest year in recorded history. Our production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow. 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.”

Continuing, the star detailed how people can use whatever influence they have to aid the underprivileged. “We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this,” he added. “For our children’s children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed. I thank you all for this amazing award tonight. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.”

DiCaprio’s activism and unfaltering support for the prevention of climate change and the protection of biodiversity is certainly no secret. Within his craft, DiCaprio has contributed to documentaries about climate change, including Fisher Stevens’s 2016 feature Before the Flood, which he co-produced.

Naturally, the question has arisen on several occasions as to whether the actor would consider running for political office, either on a local or national level. “I don’t know about that,” DiCaprio answered doubtfully when posed the question by Time Out in 2016. “I’ve been making this documentary [Before the Flood] on climate change for the last two years. If there was anything that I felt that I could do, that would really contribute to what I think is the most important issue in human history – climate change – then I would love to take a higher position with it.”

The actor opined that becoming a political candidate wouldn’t necessarily grant him more power in his environmental endeavours. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean political office. I think that a lot of the change needs to come from communal efforts, from groups and people who are trying to rattle the system. I think change is going to have to come from outside. You can’t depend on politicians to make the right decisions.”

Later in the interview, DiCaprio voiced optimism through apprehensive lips. “I’m hopeful that we’ll evolve as a species. But there is something about human nature that is very destructive,” he concluded.

Although DiCaprio is unlikely to run for political office, he maintains a lofty presence in the global discussion on climate change, campaigning and raising awareness whenever possible. In 2014, the actor was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on climate change. “I feel a moral obligation to speak out at this key moment in human history—it is a moment for action. How we respond to the climate crisis in the coming years will likely determine the fate of humanity and our planet,” DiCaprio announced while accepting the position.

Watch the trailer for Before the Flood below.