Shadowing Practice: ENGLISH SPEECH | LEONARDO DiCAPRIO: Protecting Our Planet (English Subtitles) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Join us as we delve into Leonardo DiCaprio's impactful speech at the World Economic Forum.
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Known for his acting and environmental activism, DiCaprio speaks passionately about climate change and ecosystem protection.
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This speech is ideal for English learners to practice advanced vocabulary and complex sentences while gaining insight into pressing environmental issues.
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Listen closely to DiCaprio's articulate presentation to enhance your language skills and broaden your understanding of global environmental challenges.
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Leonardo DiCaprio, would you please join me on stage?
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Thank you very much.
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Thank you.
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Thank you, Professor Klaus Schwab, Hilde Schwab, and the World Economic Forum for this generous award.
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Your recognition of my work from my foundation and our partners across the globe is a true honour.
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Last month in Paris, world leaders reached an historic agreement that provides concrete framework to reduce carbon emissions.
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This was an important first step, but we're a long way off from claiming victory in the fight for our future and for the survival of our planet.
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The Paris Agreement was a call to action, but it is now up to all of us to build this progress with ingenuity and a commitment to change.
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Together we are fighting to preserve our fragile climate from irreversible damage and devastation of unthinkable proportions.
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I've been traveling recently all over the world for a documentary
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about how this crisis is changing the natural balance of our planet.
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In Greenland and in the Arctic, I was astonished to see that ancient glaciers are rapidly disappearing, well ahead of scientific models.
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In India, I met farmers who have seen their crops, their very livelihood, literally washed away by historic flooding.
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There's no doubt to the world's scientific community
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that this is a direct result of human activity and the effects of climate change will become astronomically worse in the future.
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Last week, President Obama told those who continue to deny the irrefutable science behind climate change
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that they will find themselves increasingly lonely in a swell of voices calling for action.
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But studies also show us that those who deny the reality of climate change will also find themselves less economically successful.
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We simply cannot afford to allow the corporate greed of the coal, oil, and gas industries to determine the future of humanity.
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Those entities with a financial interest in preserving this destructive system have denied
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and even covered up the evidence of our changing climate.
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Enough is enough.
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You know better.
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The world knows better.
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History will place the blame for this devastation squarely at their feet.
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Our planet cannot be saved unless we leave fossil fuels in the ground where they belong.
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Twenty years ago, we described this problem as an addiction.
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Today we possess the means to end this reliance.
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Professor Mark Jacobson and a team of researchers at Stanford University have proven
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that we can meet the world's total energy demand by using existing renewable technology by 2050.
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To make that potential a reality, we need the collective will and conviction of political, business and philanthropic leaders like all of you.
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This transition is not only the right thing for our world, it makes clear economic sense and it is possible within our lifetime.
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A shift of this magnitude will save nearly 42 trillion in global energy costs while creating 20 million new jobs.
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Over the last several years, organizations and individuals worth 3.8 trillion dollars have already committed to divest their fossil fuel holdings
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and replace them with new investments in clean renewable energy projects.
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And leaders like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos have already pledged to help build a zero emissions future.
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I ask you to join them.
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Because if we all do our part and act with bold leadership, we can achieve major meaningful progress.
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It is not only an inevitable transition, it is also imperative for the future of our planet.
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Which brings me to the other side of this very important issue and the flip side to the environmental crisis,
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and that is the protection of our planet's last remaining natural ecosystems.
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Ecosystems that provide us with breathable air, drinkable water, fertile soil, and bountiful seas.
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These complex ecosystems can never be replaced, and they are the foundation of our global economy and,
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more importantly, our interconnected climate.
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Life without them as we know it would simply collapse.
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Fifteen years ago today, I developed my foundation to focus on these critical issues.
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Currently less than 3% of all philanthropic giving goes to defending our planet.
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Given this limited support, it's no surprise that roughly only 2% of our oceans
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and 12% of our lands are formally protected from invasive human activity like commercial fishing, agriculture, logging and energy extraction.
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Again, 3% of all philanthropic giving goes towards the protection of our only home, planet Earth.
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Today, at LDF, we are achieving tangible, exciting results with over 70 partners across 40 countries and all five oceans.
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By working with the innovative grassroots organizations and leaders, we've quickly donated critical funding they need to rapidly scale up their work.
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Over the last decade, we have provided direct grants to support projects that have expanded protected areas on land and on sea,
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protecting iconic endangered species, and empowered Indigenous communities to fight back against corporate encroachment on their lands.
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But this number needs to grow, and with your help and partnership, it will.
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Generosity is the key to our future.
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With that, I'm pleased to announce today a $15 million grant
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and new commitments from LDF to fast-track cutting-edge sustainability and conservation projects around the world.
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A prime example of climate change
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and environmental protection is our grant to the Rainforest Action Network
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and their partners on the ground to protect the last remaining rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
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Over the last year,
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major fires across Sumatra have released more carbon emissions every day than the daily activity of the entire U.S economy.
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In an effort to protect these last remaining rainforests, the vital lungs of our planet,
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our foundation is funding their effort to preserve 6.5 million acres from the invasive and destructive practices of the palm oil industry.
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We are underway with similar efforts in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador.
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We are supporting the Kaibo Alliance, an indigenous effort to stop rampant and destructive oil extraction that is poisoning their lands and communities.
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In the United States, we are We are partnering with the Solutions Projects to promote clean energy
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and support local efforts to implement these projects in their communities.
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And in our seas, we have partnered with Google and funded the Global Fishing Watch,
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which is a revolutionary new platform that will actively monitor and ultimately help end the destructive practices of overfishing.
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Additionally, we are backing an effort to protect the size of Nebraska
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and the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Seychelles Islands, which is home to vital marine species.
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Imagine what we can all do with more partnerships.
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With the alliance of many of you in this room, so much can be done if we all work together.
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With your help, we can quickly identify and fund the most innovative
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and effective projects that have the greatest potential to avert the crisis we face.
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As I look across this room, I'm optimistic that our ability to convene the most significant
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and influential minds on the planet can result in the global transition necessary to protect both our society and our natural world.
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The challenges before us require each and every one of us to take action.
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We owe this to ourselves, but more importantly, we owe it to future generations who are counting on all of us.
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Thank you all very much and thank you for this great honor.
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you

Context & Background

In this impactful speech at the World Economic Forum, actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio addresses the critical issues surrounding climate change and the need for global action. DiCaprio emphasizes the importance of protecting our planet and the role that individuals and leaders play in this effort. His articulate presentation makes this speech a valuable resource for English learners looking to enhance their language skills while absorbing crucial information about pressing environmental challenges. By listening to his passionate rhetoric, learners can improve their understanding of advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "A call to action" – This phrase can be used to describe any urgent appeal for change or response.
  • "Collective will and conviction" – A phrase that highlights the importance of unity and determination in achieving goals.
  • "Irrefutable science" – This term is great for discussing facts or evidence that cannot be disputed.
  • "Leave fossil fuels in the ground" – A powerful phrase indicating the necessity of stopping the use of non-renewable resources.
  • "Bountiful seas" – This expression captures the idea of rich and abundant marine life, useful for discussions about nature and the environment.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing technique with DiCaprio's speech, follow these steps:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the video at a comfortable pace. Focus on DiCaprio's speech to get a sense of the content and tone.
  2. Read Along: Use subtitles to follow along as you listen. This helps you connect the spoken words with their written form, enhancing comprehension.
  3. Practice Shadowing: Stop the video and repeat phrases immediately after DiCaprio. Aim for accuracy in pronunciation and intonation to improve English pronunciation.
  4. Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your voice while shadowing. Compare it to DiCaprio’s delivery to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Engage with the content: Discuss key themes and vocabulary with peers or in a study group. Using a shadowing site can facilitate this interaction.

By engaging in this shadow speech practice, you can not only refine your English skills but also deepen your understanding of global issues presented by influential figures like Leonardo DiCaprio. This approach of learning English with YouTube enriches both your language mastery and general knowledge.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.