Global Citizen Live: Ed Sheeran, Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton John among star-studded line-up at worldwide music event raising awareness of poverty

Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John are among the stars who have performed at a global music event aiming to raise awareness of poverty, climate change and the need for coronavirus vaccines worldwide.

Duran Duran and Kylie Minogue were among the performers in London after Sheeran closed the concert at the Champ de Mars in Paris.

The 24-hour event began in the French capital where Sir Elton and Stormzy also took to the stage.

New York City, Lagos, Rio de Janiero, Los Angeles, London, Sydney and Mumbai are among the other cities where concerts have either already taken place or will get underway later.

Coldplay, Paul Simon, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez and Lizzo have performed in New York where some 60,000 people gathered, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also taking to the stage.

Addressing the crowd, Harry said: "Are we prepared to do what is necessary to end this pandemic?

Meghan said: "It is so good to be back here with all of you. We know it feels like this pandemic has been going on forever, we get it, it is a lot and some people are just over it.

"But if everyone's over it, it's never going to be over. There is so much that we can do today, now, that can get us closer to ending this pandemic, and that's why we're all here."

In between songs, singer Lizzo had talked to the crowd about climate change: "Unprecedented storms, wildfires in our forest. We are watching the effects of climate change right now in front of our eyes and as an individual it can be scary."

While Eilish expressed the importance of taking care of the Earth: "I find myself completely hopeless most of the time about how much people don't care about the world and where we live and it doesn't make any sense to me."

Stevie Wonder, Adam Lambert, and Demi Lovato took to the stage in Los Angeles.

Wonder performed a number of his hits and said to the crowd: "What are the living doing? We, the living, must care, care about Haiti who has had so much pain for so long. We the living must commit to put our words into action by making room for our global citizens who need a home."

Audience members had to register on the Global Citizen website and sign petitions or share messages on social networks calling on world leaders to do more for the climate.

During the concerts, companies have pledged to provide funds to charitable causes around the world.

The event is still taking place and being streamed live on the Global Citizen Live channel on YouTube.