Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and other well-known personalities including actress Cate Blanchett and singer Shakira have signed an open letter calling on people across the world to unite in tackling the climate crisis before it is too late.

They are part of the Earthshot Prize Council, an annual environmental award launched in 2020 by Prince William and naturalist David Attenborough who are also on the list of signatories.

The letter was published on the Earthshot Prize website on Thursday to mark Earth Day, an annual event that demonstrates support for environmental protection.

In the letter, the group refers to the threat facing the Earth as "the most pressing challenge in human history" and warns of the broad consensus among experts that action on climate change must happen within the next decade before damage becomes irreversible.

It highlighted the global efforts to tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic as evidence of what is possible when the world pulls together in the face of a common threat.

The letter noted the unprecedented collective efforts to develop vaccines as well as individual actions by people around the world in support of the greater good.

It calls for the same spirit of innovation and determination to be applied to the climate emergency.

In a statement, environmental activist and Earthshot Prize Council member, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, who on Thursday also addressed the Leaders' Summit on Climate hosted by United States President Joe Biden, said: "One year since the COVID global crisis began, it is now clear that the health of our societies relies on the health of our planet. Yet, we still lack sufficient ambition to end the climate crisis and stop biodiversity loss. For centuries, indigenous peoples have been living in harmony with nature and protecting the ecosystems that sustain them. They know that cooperating with Mother Earth is the only way toward inclusive and fair societies."

The signatories are part of the Earthshot Prize Council, a global team of influential individuals from a wide range of sectors, all of whom are committed to championing action to repair the planet.

The prize is designed to incentivize change and help to repair our planet over the next ten years, and winners will receive tailored support to develop their solution along with a 1 million pound ($1.3 million) prize fund to scale the project.