OIL & GAS CUSTOMER OF THE MONTH
Leonardo DiCaprio
My friends at Energy Strong do amazing work with industry advocacy. In fact, if they had API’s budget, I’m not sure we would be in this position as an industry fighting ghouls and demons and worse, virtue signalers. I saw this today I had to share, with credit to Jack Hamlin who I’ve had on the podcast and is a good friend of mine and industry.
With his extensive use of yachts, private jets, and helicopters for lavish vacations, and his multiple vehicles – we want to thank Leonardo DiCaprio for his unwavering support of the fossil fuel industry!
In January 2022, he was spotted vacationing on the $150 million superyacht The Vava II - spending his new year on the Caribbean island of St Bart's.
The Vava II, happens to be one of the biggest luxury superyachts in the world. It is owned by 46-year-old Swiss pharmaceutical billionaire Ernesto Bertrarelli and is often used by celebrities to spend their vacations. Aside from the usual amenities, the 315-ft long yacht includes a gym, swimming pool, 'beach club', movie theater, and even a helipad. It can accommodate more than 22 guests alongside 30 crew members.
The Vava II demands fuel worth $339,712 to fill its tank. In fact, the carbon footprint generated by the yacht by sailing only seven miles reportedly equals the carbon footprint of a standard car in one year. That's one good customer!
Once loaded with 115,000 gallons of diesel, the yacht has a range of 5,700 miles. According to estimates, the Vava II generates a jaw-dropping amount of 238 kg carbon dioxide every mile.
DiCaprio has flown private jets to fly to global events like movie premieres, galas and environmental awards ceremonies – we thank him for using loads of oil and gas to fuel his life!
Of course, the timing is exceptional. This week, Leo and friends signed a petition to stop the Royal Bank of Canada from financing a pipeline in Canada to bring natural gas to market.
‘Don’t Look Up’, which was actually a movie I enjoyed, was a take on the climate change apocalypse coming soon to a forest near you. Of course, I took the movie as a shot at politicians looking at a manufactured crisis. But potato potato.
And, of course, who can forget his comments on climate change when experiencing a chinook for the first time while filming ‘The Revenant.” As a native of Calgary, the chinook was the greatest thing in the world 15 days in a row of -15 C and the reprieve! A day at 3 C! It would last a day or two, you would be less regretful that you stayed in Calgary over the winter, and then the plunge would begin again. There is a reason Canadians are called “snow birds” and the chinook was the best reason to live in Calgary over Edmonton or Winnipeg. Sorry Leo. But please, tell me how it is after a few days there.
We shot at high altitudes in Calgary, and weather conditions were unprecedented. We had fluctuation from hot to cold, and the local people told us that it had never happened before—weather extremes like that—since they’ve lived there. We realized 2015 was the hottest year in recorded history. December was the hottest December in recorded history. Our weather is dramatically changing. We had to go to the southern tip of Argentina just to be able to find snow to complete this film. I know Mr. [Quentin] Tarantino had similar problems with his film [The Hateful Eight]. But it was very eye-opening because I’m simultaneously filming a movie about climate change. I’ve been filming all over the world, from Greenland to China. We are in the process of changing our planet for tens of thousands, if not millions, of years, at this a very moment. It is a very significant turning point for me to witness it firsthand while doing this movie, and simultaneously doing the documentary. And it’s absolutely terrifying. I hope I’ll be able to complete this documentary in the next few months and show people my journey, and understand more about the issue of climate change and give people some of that knowledge.
Hmmmm…. Does that journey come with a yacht, a helicopter and a plane? I guess so.
Mr Di Caprio seems like a well- meaning sort even if typically Hollywood obsessed about things outside of acting. I refer him to works by Koonin, Shellenberger, Lomborg to perhaps provide a dose of climate/weather realism. Once past those he can try the works of Dr. Singer, Patrick Moore, and many true scientists who truly do understand atmospheric science and climate. But then, this expectation is a fantasy… just like the movies.