Chinese star Li Bingbing is using her international profile to advocate for the preservation of endangered animals.

According to China Daily, Li has openly voiced her support for the nature and environment. "That awareness has been in my DNA since I was young," she said.

The 41-year-old actress, who is a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Environment Programme, has helped launch a number of campaigns, including one against the illegal trade in ivory. Aside from that, she also initiated the L.O.V.E. Green Campaign, which encourages netizens to practice a low-carbon lifestyle.

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"I always wonder: Why would they continue to support you if you don't do something meaningful in return?" she said.

In 2015, Li urged foreign groups to fight against wildlife poaching and trafficking during a trip to Nairobi, Kenya as part of  United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) trip. In fact, after her trip in Kenya, she joined the Say No to Ivory drive to tackle illegal poaching issues of elephants and rhinos across Africa.

The Say No to Ivory drive has received a tremendous amount of support after Li promoted it on her Weibo account. "It went viral... I was very motivated and decided this will be an ongoing mission of my life," she said.

In February, Li was given the privilege to speak at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York. Although she claimed to have been a bit nervous, she firmly stressed her strong support for protecting the environment in her speech. She also called out the young generation to get involved in environmental protection.

Li was born in a small town in Harbin, Northeast China. She explains that everyone around her was thrifty, and because of this, she feels guilty when something of value is wasted, a custom that has strongly molded her awareness for protecting the environment.

TagsLi Bingbing, UNEP, L.O.V.E. Green campaign, Environment