Celebrities...

With the green movement taking this culture of ours by storm, it’s hardly a surprise that celebrities are eager to jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Whether they’re promoting their charity of choice, modeling sustainable digs at a Sundance after party, or utilizing a composting toilet, celebrities have burst onto the green scene in a big way. The following list, in no particular order, acknowledges those famous folks who have gone the extra mile in eco-conscious living -- beyond the PR and pats on the back for their selfless efforts, the following ten celebs seem to be truly set on making a difference:

1. Al Gore

What needs to be said, really? Al Gore’s been at the forefront of environmental celebrity since An Inconvenient Truth came out in 2005. Now, an Emmy, an Oscar, and a Nobel Prize later, Big Al continues to dazzle us with his unwavering commitment to the fight against climate change.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio

In addition to the eco-friendly, composting toilet he recently had installed in his home, Leo’s also collaborating with the Four Seasons to build a state-of-the art green hotel on an island he owns off the coast of Belize. Further, DiCaprio has produced and narrated a film called The 11th Hour about the increasing urgency of dealing with global warming.

3. Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has long been an outspoken advocate for environmental preservation, and the past year has been no exception. On the heels of her documentary with Jack Hanna about preserving the habitat of African mountain gorillas, Portman has also released her own line of vegan footwear for Spring 2008.

4. Brad Pitt

Not only has Brad Pitt adopted enough kids from around the world to make his family look like a blossoming mini-United Nations, he’s also become a driving force in the New Orleans post-Katrina green building movement,even donating five million of his own dollars to help fund the project.

5. Ed Begley, Jr.

Here’s a guy who was green before green was even remotely cool which, retroactively, proves just how intrinsically cool Ed Begley, Jr.is. A man who boldly marches to the beat of a different drum, Begley can be seen on his fun, informative HGTV series, or you can check out his new book, Living Like Ed.

6. Hayden Panettiere

This Heroes actress, though only 18, is already making quite a green splash. She’s been an active spokesperson against dolphin hunting, and even recently put herself in the line of fire in Japan when she and a group of surfers attempted to save local dolphins from being killed by fisherman.

7. Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett has long been an advocate for a number of ethical causes, most notably women’s rights and health issues in developing countries. She has been vocal in her criticism of celebrities who jump on philanthropic trends, stating that “women and children in Africa need help and that has nothing to do with my career.” Nice.

8. Chris Martin

The brooding, sensitive Coldplay frontman isn’t just one ofthe World’s Sexiest Vegetarians, he’s also the leading celebrity advocate of Fair Trade, both writing “Make Trade Fair" on the side of his piano during live performances, and drawing a green equal sign on the back of his left hand to remind himself to talk about the trade issue on a daily basis.

9. Heather Mills

Mills has long been regarded as an activist for vegetarianism and animal rights. She’s one of PETA’s leading celebrity spokespeople, having campaigned against the dog fur trade. She’s also recently spoken out against the use of landmines.

10. Tobey Maguire

A vegetarian for a full fourteen (!) years now, Tobey Maguire is now mostly vegan as well (he uses dairy and eggs when gaining weight for a role). Recently, Maguire completely banned all leather from his home, insisting that guests remove leather articles before coming inside. The smell of leather, apparently, makes Spiderman sick.