Has One Direction got the X-factor to spur action on climate change?
Boyband hopes fans can push governments to tackle climate change, poverty and inequality
Thousands of teenagers around the world are becoming the latest to call on governments to crack down on greenhouse gas emissions after boyband One Direction launched a campaign ahead of this year's Paris Summit to push for ambitious action on climate change.
The new "action/1D" campaign, launched in association with international children's charity Save the Children is calling on world leaders to commit to tackling climate change, inequality and poverty.
The band is hoping "directioners" will provide the X factor for a climate treaty by urging fans to submit videos stating what kind of world they want to live in.
Hundreds of videos and pictures have already been posted on the site by teenagers wanting to be part of the campaign.
The campaign is a new branch of the international "action/2015" project, which is supported by a coalition of over 1,600 organisations worldwide, launched in January.
In a video "manifesto" released on YouTube this morning, the band's four members said their fans can make a "real and lasting change".
"This, year leaders will gather at two vital meetings to set new goals and targets to begin tackling poverty, inequality and climate change," they said. "Time and time again our fans have shown how creative and powerful they can be when they unite and that's why we want all to join together to speak out and hopefully make a real and lasting change to the world around us".
Submitted videos will combined into a specially commissioned film to be screened at the UN Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September, and at the Paris climate change conference in December.
Brendan Cox, director of policy and advocacy at Save the Children, stated "One Direction is the biggest band in the world and by mobilising the millions of young people in their fanbase, they'll shine a light onto the most important issues of our time".
The band was criticised last year when its five members flew on two separate planes from Glasgow to Dublin, with band manager stating afterwards that the group were often split between two planes while travelling. However, the band now states it uses Starflight jets, which offsets carbon emissions using charity Cool Earth, which works to protect rainforests.
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