Blackpink Rallies World Leaders, Blinks for 'Climate Action in Your Area'

Korean pop superstars Blackpink on Wednesday called on world leaders meeting in Glasgow, Scotland to act on climate change, calling it the "most important issue of our time".

Climate change is an "established fact" and decision-makers should prevent the worst from happening, Blackpink said in a video message that got one million views within hours from posting.

"As you, the world's leaders, gather to focus on our climate crisis, we hope you will make the decisions necessary to protect our planet now and forever," member Jisoo said in Korean.

"We, Blackpink, and BLINKs, our fans, our generation, our world, will be watching and hoping. Let's work together for our planet and take climate action in your area," the group said. 

The UN recently tapped the quartet as advocates for its Sustainable Development Goals, the broader global effort to end poverty, hunger, AIDS and discrimination against women and girls.

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Blackpink reminded world leaders of the 2016 climate pact in Paris, wherein 196 party states committed to limit global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius, and to work for a safer 1.5C cap.

Thai member Lisa spoke of the grave impacts of just a two-degree rise in global temperature should climate change remain unmitigated. 

"One-third of the world's population will be regularly exposed to severe heat, leading to drought, health problems and death," she said in her native language. Jennie added that  "almost all warm water coral reefs would be destroyed, and sea ice would melt and devastate wildlife". 

With a little over 1C of warming since the Industrial Revolution, the Earth is seeing extreme heatwaves and monster storms supercharged by warmer oceans.

"We do not want to get there. The important thing is that we all take responsibility because it just won't be achieved without collective action," Jisoo said. 

The United Nations has been seizing the global popularity of K-pop to raise awareness on global issues. In September, boy band BTS addressed the UN General Assembly, promoting COVID vaccines while touting youth solutions for the planet.

Governments at COP26 are under pressure to redouble their emissions-cutting commitments to bring them in line with the Paris goals, and to hand over long-promised cash to help developing nations green their grids and protect themselves against future disasters.

As the summit started Monday, observers said there had been more talk than action.

-- with reports from Agence France Presse