Leonardo DiCaprio launches blistering attack on 'corporate greed' of oil companies at Davos awards ceremony

The Revenant actor used his acceptance speech to criticise energy companies and demand more action from leaders

Leonardo DiCaprio has launched a fierce attack on the “corporate greed” of the coal, oil and gas industries at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Revenant actor, who received the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for his environmentalism, used his acceptance speech to criticise energy companies and demand more action from leaders.

DiCaprio acknowledged progress made at the climate change conference in Paris but said we are still a “long way off from claiming victory in this fight for our future”.

“We simply cannot afford to allow the corporate greed of the coal, oil and gas industries to determine the future of humanity. Those entities with a financial interest in preserving this destructive system have denied, and even covered up the evidence of our changing climate,” he said.

“Enough is enough. You know better. The world knows better. History will place the blame for this devastation squarely at their feet.”

He reminded the leaders gathered in Davos that institutions worth $3.8 trillion have pledged to invest in clean energy projects instead of fossil fuels.

He praised the virtues of Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, and Bill Gates, the philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, who have already pledged to help build a zero-emissions future.

DiCaprio announced that his foundation will donate $15 million for environmental protection, on top of the $15 million he donated to environmental charities last summer.

The 41 year old actor is a front-runner for the Best Actor Oscar this year for the portrayal of Hugh Glass, a vengeful 19th-century trapper, in the wilderness epic The Revenant by Alejandro Iñárritu.