AceShowbiz -

Leonardo DiCaprio received the Clinton Global Citizen Award at the Sheraton Times Square, New York City on Sunday evening, September 21. The event was also attended by other celebrities including Eva Longoria, Seth Meyers, Randy Jackson, Sting, Trudie Styler, Ronan Farrow, Uma Thurman and Miss New York Kira Kazantsev.

Leonardo said during his acceptance speech, "Climate change is compromising the very livability of our planet." He went on explaining that "less than three percent of all philanthropic giving goes toward protecting and preserving our environment." The star of "The Wolf of Wall Street" then urged the audience to "put environmental issues at the forefront of the human agenda."

Leonardo continued, "Together we can find ways to scale up funding and create intelligent partnerships. By protecting our oceans and our wildlands we allow species to recover, local communities to thrive and ultimately maintain a stable climate for all life on earth."

He added, "The world is now at a turning point and climate change is the defining issue of our time... The task before us to protect this planet will require the largest movement in human history. It will have to cross all cultural, religious and political boundaries. But the good news is the solutions are ready and with leaders like the ones in this room who do not shrink in the face of crisis. They can rise, they can inspire and they can contribute. And that truly is the best hope of planet earth."