Leonardo DiCaprio is Now a UN Climate Change Rep

Leonardo DiCaprio has been a tragic lover, a crazy con man, a gangster, a Wall Street big-shot, and even the Great Gatsby himself, but now he's filling a role not meant for the silver screen - that of a United Nations Representative.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited DiCaprio to address the UN Climate Summit on Sept. 23 as the organization's newest appointed "Messenger of Peace." There, he will work to convince leaders from government, business, finance, and civil society to promote a fight for a healthier planet and sustainable economic growth - factors key to battling climate change.

"DiCaprio is a credible voice in the environmental movement, and has a considerable platform to amplify its message," Ki-moon said in a statement."I am pleased he has chosen to add his voice to UN efforts to raise awareness of the urgency and benefits of acting now to combat climate change."

According to the UN, "Messengers of Peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of art, film, literature, music and sports, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the Organization's ideals and activities."

The idea basically is that through their public appearances, they will be able to promote the UN's most pressing humanitarian agendas, with DiCaprio's focus on raising awareness about how to prevent the dangers of global climate change.

"I feel a moral obligation to speak out at this key moment in human history - it is a moment for action," said DiCaprio when he accepted his position on Tuesday. "How we respond to the climate crisis in the coming years will likely determine the fate of humanity and our planet."

And despite his particular skill set, this passion is certainly not an act. In 1998, the Hollywood actor founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which has stayed actively engaged in the battle against the causes and consequences of global climate change, serving as a source of major conservation and scientific funding.