The first clown in space, Guy LaLiberte, has launched a 14-city poetic planetary extravaganza to promote clean drinking water, from the International Space Station.

The billionaire space tourist and founder of Cirque du Soleil described his journey into space as a "poetic, social mission."

The two-hour live show, broadcast over the Internet to draw attention to water woes, included guests Al Gore, Bono, Salma Hayek, Peter Gabriel, Shakira, Canadian astronaut Julie Payette and a musical theatrical performance by LaLiberte's circus troupe.

It kicked off with a reading of a poem by Man-Booker prize-winning author Yann Martel, describing a conversation between the Sun, the Moon and a drop of water.

Former US vice president Al Gore with charts and video warned of melting polar ice caps, water pollution, and extreme weather causing droughts and flooding in parts of the world.

"To solve the climate crisis and safeguard our planet and its beauty... will require global effort," he said.

Australian Tiffany Speicht sang from the Sydney opera house. Group Fnaire rapped from Morocco, and Inuit singer Elisapie Isaac belted out haunting lyrics in her native language.

All the while, crowds danced and cheered in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, in Times Square in New York and at outdoor concerts worldwide.

Thirteen segments broadcast from South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Britain, Japan and the United States were to follow.

NASA will also rebroadcast the show on Saturday.

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