George Clooney calls typhoon 'terrible,' talks global warming

Jenny Depper
Actor George Clooney attends the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards in Beverly Hills, California
Actor George Clooney attends the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards in Beverly Hills, California November 9, 2013. REUTERS/Phil McCarten (Reuters)

Three days after Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc across the Philippines, officials are estimating that the death toll will top 10,000.

Actor George Clooney, who called the storm "terrible," told reporters at the BAFTA Britannia Awards on Saturday that while there is no way to link the typhoon with climate change, denying the argument is "ridiculous."

"Well it's just a stupid argument," "The Monuments Men" actor told reporters.

"If you have 99 percent of doctors who tell you 'you are sick' and 1 percent that says 'you're fine,' you probably want to hang out with, check it up with the 99. You know what I mean?" Clooney said. "The idea that we ignore that we are in some way involved in climate change is ridiculous. What's the worst thing that happens? We clean up the earth a little bit?"

Clooney, who was given the Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film, also said he'll call his Hollywood pals to action, much like he did after the crippling losses from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

"We did the Golden Globes a week before we did the Haiti telethon and we were able to sort of rally some troops around, and we'll see what goes on from here and see what we're able to do. It's just happened a day ago, so we're figuring it out," he explained.

Fellow honoree Idris Elba, from "The Wire," echoed Clooney, calling on the "world community" to "pitch in" and "help as much as we can."

"I'm so, so upset about what's happened there. I mean it's such a tragic tragedy," Elba said. "My thoughts to all the people and people who have lost their homes and all the deaths."

Clooney's philanthropic efforts are nothing new. In 2007, after Hurricane Katrina pummeled New Orleans, the 52-year-old donated $1 million to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund with the United Way. He is also one of the founders of the Not On Our Watch Project, which brings global attention and resources to prevent mass atrocities. Clooney, who has served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2008, has sought to bring attention to the genocide in Darfur.

In 2010, he received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 62nd Primetime Emmys for his philanthropic work.